Cuts to free legal services could see sex abuse victims suffer

A justice committee has recently expressed concern that the government's cuts to free legal services could result in sex abuse victims suffering.

The report from the Commons' Justice Select Committee stressed that those who have been subjected to sexual abuse could find themselves in court being cross-examined by the perpetrators of the crime if legal aid were not available for these cases.

"We recommend the Ministry of Justice considers allowing the court to recommend that legal aid be granted to provide a lawyer to conduct the cross-examination in such cases," the report said.
According to the MPs' report, the legal system could find itself dealing with a lot of unrepresented litigants who are inexperienced in the law.

Furthermore, Linda Lee, president of the law society, wrote for the New Statesman that cuts to legal aid will mean that ordinary Britons will not have a right to legal representation.

Published by Hannah Carr