The British legal system is in a state of "crisis" which must be treated as a "national emergency", a top Welsh QC has warned on the first day of a mass strike by barristers. Jonathan Rees QC, of Apex chambers, was flanked by 20 other barristers – many holding posters emblazoned ‘Save British justice’ – on the steps of Cardiff Crown Court as he read a statement calling the action a “momentous day” by people who “care about justice”.
He said: “Our system of justice is the envy of the world but gradually over time it has become starved of resources those who practice in crime are treated with contempt by government. Now the very future of our criminal justice system is in jeopardy. It has been abandoned and neglected for far too long and for the sake of victims and those accused of crime we will make this last stand to defend the system to which we have devoted our professional lives.
“We became barristers because we believe in justice. Our system exists to ensure that the guilty are punished, that the innocent are acquitted. This can only be achieved by ensuring that the system is properly funded and that the brightest and the best are prepared to undertake publicly-funded work.”
