The safety of staff at the Legal Aid office is being put at risk, along with client confidentiality, due to cramped and insecure working conditions, according to the Department’s chairman.In an annual report covering a three-year period, former Senior Magistrate Will Francis noted that the department’s work has “increased steadily” lately.He also revealed: “This office has exceeded maximum capacity in terms of accommodation.”The staff have four offices, a boardroom, kitchenette and bathroom at their office at the Ingham and Wilkinson building on Front Street, Hamilton.“All staff are trying to manage as best they can in the cramped circumstances. Wherever possible, meetings and client interviews are being held in individual offices,” he wrote.“Security and confidentiality is another critical aspect of accommodation for this office.“Currently, there is no filing room, so that the majority of the filing cabinets containing confidential client information are in the corridors.”Mr Francis added: “The nature of the clientele handled by this office, many of whom also have mental health challenges and/or drug abuse issues or histories of violence, also means that the safety of staff is critical.“Currently, the reception area is open and access to the rest of the office is easily managed by determined clients. There has already been one incident in which the police have been called in to deal with a belligerent client.”Mr Francis said discussions have been had with the Ministry of Justice’s financial controller and with Works and Engineering “to see what interim measures can be taken to enhance office security while the search for alternate office accommodation is underway”.His report was sent to the then Minister of Justice Michael Scott in June 2011.It was tabled in the House of Assembly last month, although there was no motion tabled to debate the report.Mr Francis said he did not know why it took ten months to be tabled in the House of Assembly, but that the concerns over the working conditions at the office have not been addressed since it was filed.“It’s in the same location. I’m not there daily but as far as I can see there’s been no physical additions. We are in the same space we have always had,” he said yesterday.Asked what could be done to address the situation, Mr Francis replied: “I am mindful of the financial pressures on Government. I will just have to keep pushing. That’s all I can do.”