Protest over free legal advice held

An organisation is set to hold a protest in Hastings next month over the government's cuts to free legal services.

East Sussex Advice Plus (ESAP), which acts as an umbrella organisation for a number of advice agencies, will hold the demonstration on Friday June 3rd, the Hastings Observer reported.

Protesters will march from Hastings Pier to the town hall to hear speakers address them.

Julia Eason, manager of ESAP, said: "Losing the legal aid funding will have a huge knock-on effect. This is about access to justice."

She added that in the near future many people will require advice and will be unable to access free legal services.

Ms Eason added that the legal system will not be able to be navigated by stressed individuals unless they are helped.

She also said that the government's plans for a Big Society will not work with legal aid cuts, which will impact on the voluntary sector.

The Ministry of Justice is aiming to reduce the bill for legal aid by £350 million each year by 2015.
Posted by Hannah Carr