Public Defender Unit idea defended by Cannan

Concept to be examined in detail before decision

The idea of a Public Defender Unit replacing legal aid needs to be debated.

That's the view of Treasury Minister Alf Cannan.

It's one of the recommendations of the SAVE initiative and would see advocates employed by government.

There has been criticism from the Law Society, which says the idea of prosecution and defence together is a conflict of interest - and former Onchan MHK Peter Karran has branded it as state-controlled judiciary.

But Mr Cannan says other countries have adopted a public defender unit: