Government moves to cut the cost of expert evidence could lead to 'second class justice', according to the Society of Expert Witnesses.

Delegates at the Society's Autumn Conference in Cheshire heard detailed proposals from the Legal Services Commission to cap expert witness rates in publicly-funded criminal and family court cases, irrespective of a specialist's seniority or field of knowledge or the complexity of the work involved.

SEW's Vice Chairman Frazer Imrie warned the audience of experts and speakers from the legal and forensic world: "It is clear that the intention is not to ensure justice for all but to constrain costs."

He added: "An attack on the costs of experts is the one area where savings will result in what I believe will lead to "second class justice".

Debating the issue of whether market forces should apply to experts' fees, Mr Imrie went on to say: "The really good experts will refuse to accept the cost constraints and will cease to practice in that area of the law. Those who are prepared to accept a constraint to fees will be those who are less competent or do a second best job in order to fit into the time constraints that cost cutting implies."

He concluded "The sufferers will be whoever depends on the expert evidence in court."

The plans to cut costs across the publicly funded legal system, out to consultation until 12 November, could come into force as early as next year if the scheme gets the 'green light' from the Ministry of Justice.

 Source - The Society of Expert Witnesses