LOCAL MPs have backed the creation of a state-financed criminal defence service.

Bolton South-east MP Brian Iddon and Leigh's Lawrence Cunliffe want to see the state defenders working in competition with private sector lawyers.

A recent suggestion by the Government that such a service should be set up has brought an outcry from the legal profession which claims it will restrict choice for defendants.

And it has brought claims that the state-paid Criminal Prosecution Service has been a failure.

Dr Iddon and Mr Cunliffe have backed a Commons motion which "insists that all state-funded criminal defence services should not be provide by private sector lawyers and calls for salaried lawyers to be employed to provide such services."

The MPs go on to say: "We believe that a mixed element of private sector and salaried lawyers would provide an effective criminal defence service and quality and value-for-money competition for the private sector and we call on the Government to reintroduce such measures at the earliest opportunity"

Dr Iddon said he believed that lawyers were complaining to protect their own interests.,

And he said that, although he had in the past criticised the CPS, it generally did a good job.

He said: "I believe, if we had a state-funded service, it would provide choice.

"There are many good lawyers who have made it to the top through their own efforts who would be happy to come back and work for their communities.

"It would introduce an element of competition with the private sector."

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