A large majority of lawyers are critical of government policy on the legal system, with 87% saying budget cuts bring a greater risk of mistakes being made.

The figure comes from a survey carried out by the morning tv news programme De Ochtend and the consumer programme Altijd Wat.

The survey of 463 lawyers found that 69% think the public prosecution department is too much led by public opinion. The same percentage say they are worried about the work load.

According to Walter Hendriksen, head of lawyers’ association NOvA, the biggest worry is the cuts which have been made to the legal aid budget, a system on which 36% of the Dutch population relies.

Hendriksen told the Volkskrant he is afraid that poorer Dutch people will no longer be able to afford legal representation now €85m has been cut from the legal aid budget.

Protest

Last November 300 lawyers took to the streets in protest about the cuts. The survey shows that 74% of their peers agree with their action.

In a reaction, the justice ministry told the Volkskrant that minister Ivo Opstelten and junior minister Fred Teeven ‘are focused on the sustainability of constitutional law’. 

‘It is essential for citizens and for society as a whole that access to legal representation is guaranteed,’ the spokesman told the paper.