Criminal bar chiefs have requested to meet the new justice secretary this week as barristers gather outside courts across the country today to draw the public’s attention to their concerns over the criminal justice system.

In her first message as chair of the Criminal Bar Association, Kirsty Brimelow QC said the association has asked to meet the new justice secretary – widely tipped to be former Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis - tomorrow or Thursday. ‘There can be no excuse for a minister not to be appraised of the crisis. It has flashed red alert at the government for four years,’ she said.

Brimelow described criminal law barristers as the ‘NHS of the criminal justice system’ and said the new justice secretary must open negotiations with the CBA as soon as they enter office.

Legislation has been introduced increasing Crown court fees for advocates by 15% for new cases from 30 September. The CBA is demanding a 25% uplift and for the increase to apply to cases ongoing after the statutory instrument takes effect. 

Brimelow said: ‘It is not a delivery of the recommendations of [the criminal legal aid review] to only increase legal aid fees to barristers below minimum and only on future cases, to try to place new payment on hourly rates and preparation within the “same cost envelope”.

‘The additional 10% demand by the CBA, and on future retained work, does not reverse the fall in barristers’ incomes of 28% over the last two decades nor restore the 23% income collapse during the pandemic. And this is first-stage emergency funding. Long-term reform is also required urgently.

‘In short, it is not a delivery of CLAR for government to keep on its current path which will kick the criminal justice system over the cliff.’

Brimelow and Alejandra Llorente Tascon, co-chair of the Criminal Bar Association Young Bar sub-committee, will be giving evidence to the House of Commons justice select committee this afternoon.

The evidence session will commence shortly after barristers head to parliament to lobby their MPs. Before that, they will convene outside the Supreme Court in London and Crown courts in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and Manchester to draw public and media attention to their action.