A proposal to cut legal aid could lead to a rise in the number of domestic violence victims across Worcestershire, a support group has claimed.

Launching a manifesto yesterday, a group of campaigners has urged the Government to rethink its Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to be debated by MPs next week.

Families will be encouraged to settle their disputes out of court to help reduce the country’s £2billion legal aid bill.

It is thought 600,000 fewer people will be eligible for legal aid under the proposals.

The plans would also see more people going to court on their own without legal representation.

Stephen Cobb, chair of the Family Law Bar Association, one of the groups behind the manifesto, said: “We face the very real prospect that many children and women who have been victims of domestic abuse will have to endure the further trauma of being cross-examined by their alleged perpetrator, who will not be eligible for legal aid.”

Ros Walker, from the Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse, said the cuts could increase the number of victims.

She said: “We have concerns about the proposed cuts, particularly the impact they will have on survivors of domestic abuse.

“Financial circumstance is often a barrier that keeps victims in abusive relationships.

"The cuts in legal aid raises this barrier and will potentially increase the number of victims at risk of harm.”

Worcester’s MP Robin Walker said he has made representations in Parliament on behalf of several city law firms concerned about the cuts and will look at the issue on a case-by-case basis.

He said: “We have a legal aid system that is the most expensive in the western world. It needs to be reduced.

"The Government should aim to achieve savings. I expect to be support the Bill as we need to make legal aid sustainable.”

Peter Luff, MP for West Worcestershire, also supports the Bill.

He said: “Every strain of cuts to expenditure has its critics. I won’t be supporting the calls to change the proposals. I am yet to hear a persuasive case for doing so.”

Mr Luff said he is more concerned about the lack of law firms in Worcestershire which can take on legal aid cases in the family courts and travellers using legal aid to challenge planning decisions.