The government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda to redress geographical inequalities must include the justice system, particularly in the Midlands and the North, the Bar Council has said in its submission to the Treasury ahead of the Spending Review
Nottingham Crown Court has an estimated backlog of 900 cases. Derbyshire and Carlisle are in a similar position. Derby has one publicly funded advice provider for housing and one for welfare support. Carlisle has one for housing and none for welfare support. By comparison, the London Borough of Southwark has 19 housing and three welfare support providers.
Bar Chair Amanda Pinto QC said: ‘Legal need is simply not being met.’
