(UK) Catholic church says legal aid cuts will harm human trafficking victims

[rug]

Letter sent to justice secretary by senior Catholic officials warns that residency test for legal aid will harm vulnerable people

Owen Bowcott, legal affairs correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 22 May 2013 05.01 EDT

Victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse will be deprived of courtroom support under government proposals to make further cuts in legal aid, the Catholic church has warned the justice secretary.

Chris Grayling has been sent a letter signed by senior Catholic officials and charities condemning his proposals for introducing a dual residency test on the grounds that it will harm the most vulnerable who have recently arrived in the United Kingdom.

The letter, seen by the Guardian, has been released on the day that lawyers in London stage protests against the Ministry of Justice's consultation, Transforming Legal Aid, which is aimed at slicing at least £220m out of the annual legal aid budget.

The MoJ consultation, reflecting political concerns about immigration, declares that "individuals with little or no connection to this country are currently able to claim legal aid to bring civil legal actions at UK taxpayers' expense".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/may/22/catholic-church-legal-aid-trafficking

[IrishAyes]

1. Nothing like kicking people when they're down, is there?

I'm sure lots of human trafficking victims could afford a lawyer if they really needed one.