PRACTISING BARRISTERS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS OFFENCES

That this House expresses deep concern at the case of David Friesner, a Manchester-based barrister who was permitted to continue defending in a criminal case, despite having been convicted of the theft of over 81,000; considers it deeply improper for legal professionals to be allowed to continue to bring the legal system into disrepute by acting on behalf of parties despite having been found guilty of serious crimes themselves; further considers it to be the case that the Bar Standards Board was slow in reacting to the seriousness of the episode, as evidenced by the substantial delay inits suspension of Friesner; and calls urgently on the Government to act immediately to seal this loophole.