By Ashley Young-
Frustrated Criminal barristers across the Uk are planning strikes over issues of excess burden relating to work and underpaid wages .
Over 90% of the 2,050 prosecuting barristers who responded to a Criminal Bar Association’s survey on prosecution fees are discontent with their pay packages and feel under appreciated by the CPS. Incredibly, some are considering leaving the profession over the strains of high demand and unsatisfactory pay rates .
99.3% of those surveyed believe the current remuneration rates for prosecution advocacy does not reflect the demands skill and responsibility the work involves, 99.3% said no. An insider at the Criminal Bar Association told The Eye Of Media.Com that huge delay at courts for court hearings plays its role in undermining the worth of barristers who have to wait hours for cases that are heard long after the time they were scheduled.
Last year the government proposed to increase spending on the revised Crown court fee scheme for advocates by £15m after criminal barristers refused to accept new work for a number of weeks. A year later, criminal barristers are still complaining of low pay. Barristers are generally perceived to be one of the best paid professionals in the country, but this perception is now being presented as being in error.
TIME
Barristers say that burdened work has increased for 84.2% of respondents, with nearly all saying they were spending more time dealing with unused material. 8 in 10 respondents said they did not feel valued by the Crown Prosecution Service. In February, barristers across the country were livid at the highly attractive remuneration package offered to prospective members of the Crown Prosecution Service to be recruited.
The Crown Prosecution Service recruitment for deputy chief crown prosecutors was offering up to £93,247, in what said to have really incensed practitioners. Criminal Bar Association Chris Henley QC told prosecution chief Max Hill QC in a letter that anger about the treatment and remuneration of prosecution advocates ‘is reaching boiling point’.
CBA chair Chris Henley QC said: ‘Our goodwill and professionalism has been abused for far too long. There have been no increases in fee levels for 20 years. You can spend a whole day at court presenting a serious and complex case for £46.50. It is beyond ridiculous. Or spend hours preparing a difficult sex case trial for £55.
‘Far too many talented barristers are now refusing to work for the CPS. The answers to the CBA survey confirm why this is happening. They have had enough. It’s great news for those who commit crime, but a disaster for victims of crime, and the wider public who want to be kept safe.’
Richard Atkins QC, chair of the Bar Council, said: ‘I hope that the current review of prosecution fees will lead to a substantial increase in the fee levels which were originally set in 2001 and have not seen an increase since then. The CBA survey which has been responded to by a large number of those who prosecute demonstrates why change is necessary. I look forward to working with the CPS to produce a new and fair remuneration scheme.’
Last year the government proposed to increase spending on the revised Crown court fee scheme for advocates by £15m after criminal barristers refused to accept new work for a number of weeks.