CDS News

The LSC originally aimed to publish the second consultation paper detailing proposals for introducing price competition in 2010 for criminal defence work in Police Stations and Magistrates’ Courts in December 2008.

Change of date...

We continue to work with various stakeholders on our proposals, and now plan to publish by the end of March 2009.

Extension of Unified Crime Contract

The current Unified Crime Contract is due to expire in January 2010.  It contains a six-month extension clause; we plan to utilise this extension clause for contracts in all areas of the country and therefore expect that the current contracts will expire in July 2010. 

We will send the appropriate formal notice in due course. 

The consultation document

Our consultation document will detail our proposals for replacing the current contracts in all areas, including timings. 

This will cover:

• amendments to the current registration process in non-price competition areas
• detailed proposals for introducing price competition
• information on how price competition would be piloted and rolled out nationally in the event that we adopt this policy.

The earliest date that contracts let through a system of price competition will begin is July 2010.

Further information

For further information, please get in touch with your account manager or relationship manager.