Crime brief

Carter reforms

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has published further proposals in relation to legal aid reform, this time covering police station and duty work. The LSC has abandoned its initial proposal to increase police station boundary areas, recognising that without an increase in volume suppliers would find it hard to make a profit. Police station fixed fees will be implemented from October 2007, based on existing duty solicitor boundary areas, and the rates will apply to both duty and own client work. There will be an upper limit for claims, with an hourly rate payable for attendance beyond the breakout ceiling. No additional allowance will be made for travel and waiting—although disbursements will be claimable. Telephone advice will not be claimable as all initial advice will be given by the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) Direct.

There is a further consultation on duty        solicitor slot allocation. Of particular interest is the LSC’s wish to explore whether the firms thatmade business decisions based on the previous proposal of allocation based on historical volume should