Reform campaigner hits out at legal aid ‘unfairness’

May 13 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

A PRISON reform campaigner has spoken out against the legal aid system, calling it “an affront to the principles of justice”.

Pauline Campbell was forced to represent herself in a pending criminal trial after being arrested during a peaceful demonstration outside Styal Prison, in Cheshire, earlier this year.

The case has recently been dropped.

Mrs Campbell has campaigned for better conditions for vulnerable women in prison since her daughter, Sarah, died of an overdose while at Styal in 2003.

She was arrested in February during a demonstration outside the prison following the suicide of another inmate, Lisa Marley.

She has now been informed by Chief Crown Prosecutor Ian Rushton that pursuing her case is “no longer in the public interest”.

Mrs Campbell, who has been arrested 15 times at demonstrations but never convicted of any offence, denied a charge of obstructing the highway.

She had been representing herself in court after being refused legal aid on the grounds of interests of justice.

“I am very disillusioned with the criminal justice system,” she told LDP Legal.

“It is incompatible with the principle of access to justice that anyone should have to stand criminal trial and attend pre-trial reviews without legal representation.

“I was denied legal aid, even though I have no paid employment and no savings.

“As ‘the accused’, I found it enormously stressful having to conduct my own case in court on three occasions.”

The campaigner referred to comments made recently by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, who said he “viewed with concern” the increasing numbers of litigants in person, partly because of difficulties of getting legal aid.

Mrs Campbell added: “The Government has squeezed the pips out of legal aid.

“There will be an increase in miscarriages of justice. This is a problem that is not just going to go away and raises very serious questions.

“Without representation in court, it’s not a level playing field. I could have been found guilty and been criminalised or even sent to prison.

“It is absolutely right the case was thrown out of court and it is wrong this is allowed to happen.

“From start to finish, this senseless prosecution was a waste of the court's time, a scandalous waste of money, and an enormous drain on my emotional health.”

She has vowed to carry on campaigning because “where there is injustice there will be protest”.

“The unjust sentencing of vulnerable women; their suffering, and deaths – that is the injustice.

“Forty-one women prisoners have died from self-inflicted injuries since my daughter's death in January, 2003. Unless reform is introduced, more women will die.”

vickyanderson