Eviction court delays to rise as spending cuts bite - Law Society warning

Agents and landlords are to face even longer waits for eviction court cases following the spending cuts announced in the Autumn Statement, it’s feared.

“The justice system is in crisis and facing systemic failure. Increased funding is vital to keep it functioning” says Nick Emmerson, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

He continues: “In criminal justice, there are huge backlogs in the courts. Victims’, witnesses’ and defendants’ lives are in limbo as they wait years for justice, with cases listed as far ahead as 2024.

“Courts are crumbling, dogged by delays, and there are chronic shortages of judges and lawyers as professionals leave this underpaid work in their droves. Duty schemes are failing, leaving the right to representation at police stations in peril.

“Recruiting more police and talking tough on crime will matter little if the courts can’t deal with the volume of cases already going through the system, let alone many more. Criminals may instead be emboldened.”

And he adds that in civil justice, there are vast legal aid deserts across England and Wales, meaning people who are entitled to legal aid can’t access it.

“The cost-of-living crisis and public spending cuts mean more and more people will need legal help with life-changing issues such as homelessness and debt. But who is going to give that vital advice if there aren’t enough solicitors to meet the current demand?”

He concludes that the government will be forced to pick up the pieces, at greater cost, further down the line. In the meantime he warns there will be the risk of there being a justice system “in crisis”.