Lawyers to boycott cops

Published on 15/12/2012 12:00

CRIMINAL defence lawyers in the Capital are to refuse duty calls to police stations for three months.

Lawyers are angry about Scottish Government proposals that would see people with a disposable income of £68 or more make contributions to defence costs.

The Edinburgh Bar Association is the first Scottish faculty to announce the move, but it predicts others will follow suit, with Glasgow considering 
similar action.

Police fear the industrial action could force them to release suspects without even questioning them for fear of breaching human rights laws.

A Scottish Government spokesman added: “This action is extremely disappointing and attacking the police station duty scheme in this way is totally unjustified.”