Criminal Information Agency

As I checked my e-mail inbox today I received an e-mail informing me about a new web site called the Criminal Information Agency. I first of all read a local newspaper report on the chap who had set up the web site. In the report it described the website as a business venture where the chap was employing 22 people and, "The venture will be funded by more than 40,000 UK solicitors and barristers listed on the site." I then took a look at the site. It appears that the web site has just started (as the news report suggests) and there is not yet much content on the site. But, the site makes several boasts that sounds very impressive.

Firstly the web site suggests that it will provide, "...Probably, the world's first and only service that will provide our readers with 24 hour on-line legal advice. Also we at the Criminal Information Agency are going to introduce a new and innovative way for our readers to find or locate a solicitor or barrister by introducing them to our legal advice and representation area of the website. This is truly a unique way of getting legal advice and legal representation." The web site is clearly aimed at criminal law and I have yet to come across many criminals who have chosen to instruct a solicitor or barrister on the strength of a web site. Most cases that are referred to me are by way of 'word of mouth' recommendations. Criminals are sometimes very picky about their solicitor and stick with their trusted solicitor for years. I know that my firm advertises extensively in local newspapers, the Yellow Pages and other local directories and every once in a while we will pick up a case on the basis of advertising or even a web site.

Secondly, the web site aims to name and shame those people who have received an anti-social behaviour order: "Mr Croxton said: "If you think someone is breaching an asbo you can check the conditions of their curfew, for example, and then report them to the relevant authorities." Does this not go against the ethos of the web site that is aimed at assisting those accused of crimes? A central publicly accessible register of people subject to an ASBO sounds like an interesting idea. But where are the resources going to come from to fund the reporting of ASBOs imposed across England and Wales. Companies such as Smith Bernal charge a small fortune to provide transcription services for Crown Court cases. Even services such as Lawtel or Butterworths do not have the ability to report on routine sentences across the country. I shall wait and see how this section of the web site develops.

Lastly I do not think there are 40,000 barristers in England and Wales who practice in criminal law, although I could be wrong. If someone is looking for a solicitor they can simply use the Law Society's 'Find A Solicitor' section of their website to locate a solicitor that undertakes criminal work in their local area. Why advertise when the Law Society provides this functionality for free?

Good luck Mr. Coxton on your venture.