Ensuring Justice for All
Plaid Cymru believes that everybody should have access to justice, within easy access of the community in which they live. Sadly, for too many years, this right has been reduced, either through deliberate closure of local court facilities or the reduction in funding or opportunities for legal support.
We would provide additional help to prevent these legal aid ‘deserts’ which means that individuals are prevented from accessing timely advice and support. This involves supporting the legal workforce to move into these fields of provision and making the whole field more sustainable.
Many parts of Wales were affected by court closures under both Labour and Conservative governments, making it difficult to access justice in the local community. Plaid Cymru would pilot a courts in the community scheme which visit areas of the country with an appropriate timetable to resolve local justice needs. This could also help reduce the backlog of court cases, which have become endemic within the system due to the under-funding by the Conservatives.