The organisation which has built many of the legal challenges to the number of deaths in custody, INQUEST, has released a briefing on the effects of the Legal Aid Reforms on the families seeking justice for the death of their loved ones.
Tellingly, they believe that
Without specialist family representation there would be no proper public scrutiny of what takes place behind the closed walls of custodial institutions or of the acts or omissions of state agents. The abuses of power uncovered at many of these inquests would remain unchallenged and hidden from public view. This would not only impact negatively on the bereaved families involved but would have worrying implications for society as a whole.
You can read the report here (PDF)
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