By James Rougvie

THE DEAN of Dundee Law Faculty, which represents the city’s solicitors indicated last night a near-certainty they could follow their counterparts in Glasgow and refuse to represent people accused of sex offences.

In a row with the Scottish Executive about legal aid fees, solicitors throughout Scotland claim they have had no increase in the majority of their legal aid funding for the past 14 years.

They also say the number of solicitors prepared to carry out legal aid work has fallen by 25%.

People facing sex charges must be represented by a solicitor since they are barred from cross-examining their alleged victims at trial.

However, the Tayside public was given an assurance last night by Dundee’s procurator fiscal Betty Bott that sex offenders will not go free or have charges against them dropped just because they are not represented by a solicitor.

Nor will people who had bail opposed be freed because of action by solicitors.

The Glasgow solicitors’ action is due to start on August 1 and is said to be the last resort in their argument with the Executive.

The dean of the Dundee faculty, George Donnelly, said although the city’s lawyers had not yet had a meeting to discuss the situation, feeling among the legal fraternity is running as high as throughout the country.

He said, “I am sure that if we had negotiations and if we were involved then we would seriously contemplate following the line taken by Glasgow.

“Any vote taken at a meeting would be to follow that line.”

He said there a meeting will be scheduled shortly, adding, “Feelings are running so high that it would not take much persuasion to join in the action because throughout the country we are at the end of our tether with the Scottish Executive.”

Ms Bott said she could reassure the public the courts will not just let sex offenders out if they are unrepresented.

She said, “I am confident the criminal justice partners will get together and ensure that people who have had bail opposed for very good reasons will not be released simply because of the action by the defence.

“There is no way we will oppose bail and then say, ‘Okay, there is no-one to defend you. We will let you out.’”

She expressed confidence the Crown Office will provide consistent instructions to all fiscals on what action will be taken, and the public will stay safe.

“No-one will be liberated or charges against them dropped because of the actions of the defence,” she said.