Press Release
Telephone Advice Pilot to go Ahead
13 October 2004
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has today approved a Criminal Defence Service (CDS) Direct pilot that will provide initial legal advice over the telephone to people detained at police stations.
The pilot will begin on 4 April 2005 and last for at least 6 months.
A consultation on the pilot took place earlier this year and 64 responses were received by the LSC. Responses were received from many of the legal professional bodies, as well as individual solicitors firms. The LSC has listened carefully to all the responses received and the scope of the pilot has been changed in light of the responses.
The CDS Direct pilot will now provide advice in the following circumstances:
- When people are detained at police stations in Liverpool or Boston (Lincolnshire), regarding a non-indictable only crime, such as petty theft or drunk and disorderly, where the time of interview is not known when the request for a duty solicitor is made.
- When people are detained at any police station in England and Wales where the matter is restricted to telephone advice only, such as driving with excess alcohol or a warrant.
Katherine Pears, Acting Director of the Criminal Defence Service at the LSC, said: “The LSC is committed to ensuring we obtain the best value for money for the services we fund. The CDS Direct pilot will help us in this aim and will enable the CDS to explore an alternative method of service delivery. We appreciate the constructive response to consultation from the profession and will evaluate the pilot carefully. All CDS Direct advisers will hold The Law Society’s Police Station Qualification. This will ensure that those detained at a police station will receive quality advice.”
Non-indictable only cases will only be passed onto a Criminal Defence Service solicitor when the police confirm to CDS Direct that a time has been set for an interview or identification.
Holders of the Police Station Qualification who are interested in taking part in the CDS Direct pilot, which will operate from an office in south London, can contact mark.coles@firstassist.co.uk.
Media information
Gary Spink Tel: 020 7759 0493
Daniel Kellingley Tel: 020 7759 0415
Richard Shand Tel: 020 7759 0491
Notes to editors
1. Journalists can obtain copies of CDS Direct - Response to Consultation from the above individuals. Copies will shortly be available from the LSC’s website (www.legalservices.gov.uk).
2. The original consultation paper on CDS Direct, Criminal Defence Service – A Consultation Paper from the Legal Services Commission, was issued on 4 May 2004. Copies are available from www.legalservices.gov.uk.
3. A two page supplementary consultation paper is being sent to London Criminal Court Solicitors’ Association, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors Association and Legal Aid Practitioners Group to gather their views on the revised arrangements for the CDS Direct pilot. This document will also shortly be available from www.legalservices.gov.uk.
4. In 2003/04, nearly £1.2 billion was invested in the Criminal Defence Service.
Last updated: 28 December 2006