Scots have lowest faith in justice system, national survey finds
Scots have the lowest faith in their justice system of anyone in the UK, according to a new study commissioned by a law firm.
Only 15% of people in Scotland believe their system to be "fair and transparent", compared with 24% across the UK as a whole. Further, only 32% trust professionals working within the legal system (37% across the UK, though North East England scored lower at 29%). More than half (56%; UK 54%) feel the justice system is inaccessible, while 63% (UK 67%) feel that wealth is now a more important factor in accessing justice than it used to be. An even greater number of legal professionals (87%; UK 83%) feel the same way.
The research, entitled Unjust Kingdom: UK perceptions of the legal and justice system, was carried out for Hodge Jones & Allen, a London based firm that specialises in representing ordinary individuals.
Only 45% of those in Scotland felt that they would know what to do in a situation requiring legal assistance.
The report follows a comprehensive nationwide survey undertaken to gauge public attitudes towards the British legal and justice systems. These findings are compared by region, and contrasted with additional perceptions gathered from over 500 legal professionals.
It argues that more must be done not only to restore public trust in the UK justice system, but also to improve knowledge of how it works. This is supported by findings that two thirds of respondents, and more than 70% of legal professionals, believe that better education in legal matters would result in improved access to justice, and an understanding of the law should be taught in primary and secondary schools..
Patrick Allen, senior partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, commented: “The voices of the public and the profession are in complete unison that cuts to legal aid and the introduction of court fees have only served to exacerbate an already difficult situation. It comes as no surprise that those in the lowest income bracket have the least trust in a system that appears unfair, confusing and inaccessible. In light of these findings, the recent budget delivered in the [UK] spending review needs to be reconsidered. Without legal aid, ordinary people are not getting the access they deserve."
He added: “The public have a clear appetite for modernisation, so we welcome the Government’s promise to take the courts from a paper-based system to a digital one. However technology is not a magic bullet; we cannot rely on it as the only solution and potentially ostracising the most vulnerable members of society in the process. Better education about the law must also come hand in hand with any move towards an online or digital system."
Hodge Jones & Allen is campaigning to raise awareness of these issues and has a petition against the legal aid cuts in England & Wales.