LEGAL aid cuts are set to see more than 11,000 people in the North East “denied access to justice” ministers have been warned.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) branches across the region say cuts worth more than £2m set to hit them this April will mean they are unable to help all but a handful of people.

They were last night backed by the Very Rev Christopher Dalliston, Dean of Newcastle, who said a series of cuts to benefits and legal aid showed those making decisions did not understand the reality of their actions.

Some £350m has already been cut from the money behind legal aid, with Justice Secretary Chris Grayling saying he will seek further cuts to the £2bn budget.

In Tyneside, CAB officers say the result will be to deny help for those challenging unfair dismissal from work, sorting out debt problems or appealing against a benefit decision.

From next month, many people will have nowhere to turn to for free specialist advice. Legal aid advice on housing will only be available where a person’s home is at immediate risk or where housing disrepair poses a serious threat to health.

Family law experts have already warned the move will make it harder for women seeking justice, with mothers who stay at home likely to be denied legal aid in divorce cases.

Shona Alexander, chief executive of Newcastle CAB said “The loss of legal aid specialist advice is frightening given that the current shake-up of the benefit system means more and more people need our help. We are gravely concerned about the justice gap between those who can afford to pay for legal advice and those who can’t, with the poor unable to challenge refusal of benefits, dismissal at work or sort out unmanageable debt.”

Rev Dalliston backed those concerns. He told The Journal: “What is deeply concerning is the pressure coming from every direction towards the more vulnerable in our society, as seen for example in the cuts to benefits at one level and the cuts to legal aid on the other. Access to justice is a must for a vulnerable society.

“I remain deeply concerned that there is a kind of inability to comprehend the vulnerability of the poorest in our society. It’s not pernicious or vindictive in any way, there are just those making decisions who don’t understand the reality, from the top right through.

“The Government has not quite grasped how these multiple cuts will jeopardise the wellbeing and social connectedness of the most vulnerable, they are going to be cut adrift.”

Over the last two years, CAB has helped provide 921 people with legal aid in Newcastle.

Between 2010 and 2011 they dealt with 220 debt cases and 341 welfare benefit cases, however as legal aid contracts started to diminish the CAB were forced to scale down their service.

Between 2011 and 2012 they dealt with 144 debt cases and 216 welfare benefit cases.

Shona Alexander said: “We won’t be able to do any representation next year, so the figures will be even smaller again.

“People will have to represent themselves, something we know judges are worried about. Legal aid covered medical letters and translator services so when that goes it will be a struggle.”

The Ministry of Justice denied it was damaging the legal aid sector.

A spokeswoman said: “The advice sector has an important contribution to make, and the Government has a role to play in supporting charities as they adapt to new funding realities.

“But charities cannot escape the tough decisions councils, Government departments and others have to make in the current economic climate.

“Even after our reforms come into effect, legal aid will still be running at over £1.7bn a year. Legal aid will continue to be provided to those who most need it, such as where domestic violence is involved, where life or liberty is at stake or people risk losing their home.

“But in cases like divorce, courts should more often be a last resort, not the first.