HM Attorney General has today launched an eight week public consultation on criminal legal aid.
The purpose of the consultation is to seek people’s views on the Island’s current criminal legal aid provision, and explore the feasibility of alternative approaches in the future, including fixed fees and a public defender scheme.
The United Nations describes legal aid as an essential element of a fair, humane and efficient justice system. Criminal legal aid can help individuals to access justice, it can reduce the length of time suspects are held in police stations, reduce prison populations, court congestion and levels of reoffending. It plays a vital role in the Isle of Man and contributes to the smooth running of the Manx justice systems, and it provides support for some of the most vulnerable members of society.
John Quinn QC MLC, HM Attorney General, said:
'Criminal legal aid has a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the public who use criminal legal aid services, interpreters, advocates and members of the judiciary. I would therefore like to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this important consultation, as it is an essential step towards helping understand people’s views on the current provision of criminal legal aid, and will help formulate options for its future provision in the Isle of Man.'
The consultation forms part of a wider legal aid review project, which is being led by HM Attorney General on behalf of the Council of Ministers. The legal aid review originally began as a ‘SAVE’ Programme project for the Treasury, to consider the feasibility of a public defender scheme in the Isle of Man. However, the scope of the project soon widened to encompass both criminal and civil legal aid.
The aim of the legal aid review is to develop policy options for the sustainable provision of legal aid on the Island, which:
- maintain or improve access to justice
- support the delivery of quality services
- provide value for money for the taxpayer
The legal aid review is being carried out in two parts, to reflect both types of legal aid in the Island (criminal and civil). A consultation on civil legal aid will be launched later in the year. Following the completion of both consultations, policy options will be submitted to the Legal Aid Committee. The committee’s remit includes the determination of legal aid policy in the Isle of Man.
The criminal legal aid consultation is available online through the Isle of Man Government’s Consultation Hub.
Paper copies of the consultation are available from the Attorney General’s Chambers on request by calling +44 1624 685452 or emailing attgen@gov.im.
