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Posted by Mark Cunningham

The government has been warned that making cuts to the country's legal aid system could result in a certain section of society falling victim to injustice.

According to Bobby Duffy, director of operations at the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), reductions in funding in this area of British legislation may leave psychiatric patients without sufficient legal representation at tribunals regarding their mental health.

Mr Duffy explained that legal aid represents "one of the few reliable avenues of support" for anyone facing such a case and is particularly important for "those in hospital".

He added that "demand is already high" for professionals in this sector, meaning that action that will further restrict access to legal aid could deny "many people with mental health problems a vital lifeline".

Currently, the Legal Services Commission provides assistance to around two million people annually, but budget cuts brought about by austerity measures are likely to reduce this number significantly.
 

16/02/2011 14:27