Still on the subject of why we don't have any trust in the symbols of modern society:

 

So if we can't trust the politicians or the Police, what about that last bastion of justice - the judiciary? Well, sure enough, every now and then they come down on the side of the public as opposed to the Government but let's look a little closer.

 

In 2006 this government introduced new rules as a knee jerk reaction to much hyped cases where millionaires got Legal Aid. The result is that nowthe only hope of getting fair and adequate legal representation is to be rich. In an example from last summer one defendent had a solicitor who openly told a court that if the case were to be heard there and then he would have to walk out leaving the defendent unrepresented. The reason? - months of delay getting approval for Legal Aid while they tried to bring in a new syatem.

 

Even if you do succeed in getting Legal Aid, this is minimal and has a limited amount both in termsd of finance and time. Of course your solicitor won't be getting paid anywhere near the £175 per hour he'll get for private work so you can't expect anywhere near the same level of work. If there's doubt over the legality of evidence? - sorry Legal Aid won't cover that given the maximum amount permissable. I fyou need to get a court order for return of property from the Police? - Sorry you'll have to stand up in court and ask yourself. Want to change your Barister because you're not happy with the lack of representation? - tough luck you'll get who your Legal Aid solicitor has a nice arrangement with.

 

Then we come to the Judiciary itself.

Imagine you're in possession of a court order giving someone 28 days to return a large, framed and mounted, professional studio photo. Now imagine that after 35 days you eventually receive the picture - ripped from its frame and mount, tearing it in the process, and foldd in three. You'd think that a court order would mean the picture being returned in good condition, as it was at the application? Well apparently not! It seems that if you're female, the judge is female (and you have a cosy chat beforehand) all you have to say is "It was OK when I sent it" - and the only liability you have is to tell the person with the court order where the photo was produced and they then have to buy a replacement photo, frame and mount. It's decisions like this that make you feel the law is no longer the servant of the people and the judiciary are out of touch with reality.

 

 

 

I used to have faith in our legal system, but from cutbacks in Legal Aid to moves for longer detention without charege and talk of doing away with Juries there's little left to have faith in. And who is it who elects these magistrates and judges to deliberate matter fairly? Is it the public? Of course not, it's the goverment of course!. Faith in a system with no accountability is as sensible as having faith in a reconciliation while the other party is dropping their knickers in Florence for a "family friend".