'Fathers at risk' in Government's legal aid cut

Article here. Excerpt:

Hundreds of men will face false allegations of domestic violence and child abuse because of legal aid reforms, barristers warned today.

Under cuts announced by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, aid for divorce cases will be withdrawn with the exception of those involving accusations of violence and abuse.

Peter Lodder, chairman of the Bar Council, said the changes created “a perverse incentive” for unjustified claims.

“We already get far too many unjustified allegations of this sort and our fear is that there is going to be an enormous increase of this sort of allegation,” he said.

“Just imagine the unscrupulous lawyer, or adviser, telling a woman that the only way that she's going to get legal aid is if she says that she's been knocked about or that there is a problem with the children.”'