Criminal Defence Service Direct

The commission has announced a pilot for CDS Direct and will be live starting from today (31st October 2005).  This pilot will last for approximately six months and its purpose is to reduce unnecessary duty solicitor's attendances at police stations.

Derek Hill, the new director of the CDS at the LSC, said “The LSC is committed to ensuring we obtain the best value for the services we fund.  The CDS Direct pilot will help us in this aim and will enable the CDS us in this aim and will enable the CDS to explore an alternative method of the service delivery.  By providing advice over the phone, it also promises to reduce unnecessary duty solicitors attendances at police stations, which are a drain on solicitors called out in the middle of the night and the public purse.  We are committed to sharing the evaluation of the pilot with the professional bodies”.

For further information on this please view our update notes .

Or alternatively, please contact your account manager on 020 8804 1022.