England: CPS faces rebellion from barristers over fees and workload

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) revealed that 95 per cent of the over 2,000 prosecution barristers who responded to a recent survey are prepared, in principle, to take action if “other routes are ultimately exhausted”.

The association, which has been engaging with the DPP and CPS Chief Executive on these issues since December 2018, plans to conduct a similar survey of defence barristers shortly.

In a statement, the CBA said: “The results of the CBA survey on prosecution fees has overwhelmingly given a mandate for action.

“These results are from the Circuits across the country. What a sorry state of affairs they represent. It is bluntly, shameful. This is a national view. Lest anyone should think or try to delude themselves that there is any sense of a geographical division, think again.

“The concerns expressed are real, the complaints are justified, our treatment is shabby and we are determined to seek a change. The time for change is now. The Criminal Bar is one.”

In a separate development, leading legal figures welcomed the launch of a new trade union for workers in the legal sector, from solicitor and barristers to paralegals, admin staff, receptionists and cleaners.

Legal Sector Workers United (LSWU) has been formed as part of the radical union United Voices of the World (UVW), whose membership is concentrated mainly in London.

Michael Mansfield QC said: “This initiative is long overdue. I was involved in an earlier effort in the 1970s which was far less ambitious and did not survive. This has the advantage of a far wider constituency of workers who are constantly at risk of exploitation and marginalisation despite their critical role.”

John Hendy QC, chair of the Institute of Employment Rights and a leading trade union and employment law barrister, added: “I support the unionisation of all workers in all sectors. The inequalities in income and in terms and conditions in the legal world are notorious and I therefore support the initiative to form the Legal Sector Workers under the banner of United Voices of the World.”