Good afternoon,

I have just read again the latest LCCSA update in relation to the police station protocol, emailed on the 17^th December 2021.

I have attached this email to my email of the 11^th January 2022 asking about an update as to when any further meetings would take place.

I never received a reply to this question; perhaps there have been no further meetings, I don’t know.

Reading the article sent on the 17^th December 2021 the LCCSA were supportive of the membership on the whole the email set out the issues accurately.

Now we are facing decisions being made by Boris Johnson which are ludicrous given the stage we are at in the pandemic; I believe there are approximately 270 dyeing each day and the rates of infection are falling from a very high level to about 65,000 approximately 12,000 are currently in hospital with Covid.

The government cannot make decisions based on the science, now, because Boris is doing everything he can to distract his party from the huge mistake in judgement he made at the start of the pandemic. He is fighting for his political career.

It seems that contrary to my belief that those mistakes where his problem; they are now everyone’s problem.

It seems he is proposing to remove the need to self- isolate; leaving it to individuals to take responsibility for this. Where does this leave Protocol 4?

We really do need a response to this email as this raises the dangers of attending police stations as if it is not compulsory can we self- isolate when necessary?

How will the police react? Can we use protocol 4 ?

I think we need to address this now as no one believes that this decision is based on the science. The scientists have not appeared and said this follows the science and it is obvious it does not.

Also why is there nothing in place for solicitor’s who for some medical reason must continue to deal remotely. This has not been addressed. It must be without delay.

I emphasise that I am not saying remote should be the norm. I am saying that what is happening now is wrong because of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Whilst I appreciate the LCCSA are volunteers and they have issues in relation to the future of legal aid report to contend with;( nothing will happen in relation to this until the end of March 2022), and they have their own businesses to run ,we still really need to have an update on all of this now as the situation has changed so understandably we need to know what the position is now.

I note from the email on the 17^th December 2021 that if firms where not going to be attending they should inform their Contract manager and then tell the LCCSA. What was the purpose of that?

Did anyone actually do this; what impact did this have?

This issue seems to be very urgent now. Awaiting a response.

Kind Regards

Margaret Frame ( Partner )

Brooke Lavington Law

17 – 21 George Street

Croydon

Surrey

CR0 1LA

Telephone : 07939 088264

Email : maggie@brookelavingtonlaw.co.uk

Secure email : margaret.frame@bll.cjsm.net

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Solicitors Regulation Authority No 538264

From: Maggie Frame [mailto:maggie@brookelavingtonlaw.co.uk]
Sent: 11 January 2022 14:26
To: members@mail.lccsa.org.uk
Subject: Police Station Attendances/Remote/In person

Good morning,

There has been little mentioned about this over Christmas. Understandable; we are all just trying to have a little break and somehow keep going. I wonder has anyone been successful in using protocol 4 exception 3; basically arguing that the rooms are not safe and had the custody sergeant agree with them?

It would be useful to hear how it is going for everyone?

When is there another meeting with the various agencies to discuss the issues?

Boris Johnson is due to make a decision in relation to plan B on January the 26^th. I won’t even go into the numbers in hospital and the effect that us not working remotely could be having in relation to this. We all know the figures are very high.

Slightly less deaths but I think we have become desensitised to this because the average death rate is 150 per day. Unfortunately that is not a figure our government is concerned with.

They are building extensions to hospitals to care for those too ill to be discharged but to free up bed space and talking about bringing in the army to cope with the numbers if necessary.

Is it just me or have we lost the plot somewhere? When did living with Covid become live with it whatever the risks.

Why are we not talking about living with this safely? It’s absolutely possible to do this and others are being allowed to choose their level of risk.

It is true that the economy can’t remain closed indefinitely. It is also true that we don’t assist the economy by not working remote. Boris still wants us to work remotely if we can; we can but we are not.

The interview rooms and consultation rooms remain unsafe and we all manage as best we can; in our aprons, masks and gloves.

At the very least the Protocol must be amended to allow for those with compromised immunity/health conditions or living with the same to be allowed to carry on working safely, remotely until we really find out what is happening.

There is so much being said about lateral flow test and number of days for isolation that it is becoming confusing.

I personally couldn’t care less if Boris had a party when he shouldn’t . The consequences of that are his problem. There was choice involved there.

Boris has asked that we work from home if we can and so we really should be doing our bit to get us all out of this pandemic. At the very least it should be our choice.

Let us know what has been happening within your firms?

All the best

Hope you are keeping well!