Grooming Gangs Criminal Justice System 2025-07-08
2025-07-08
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Thousands of children across the UK have been abused by grooming gangs, with charities warning that police and other authorities still engage in victim blaming.
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for her response. Thousands of children across the UK have been abused by grooming gangs, yet charities still warn of victim blaming by police and those in authority. We should be clear that the problem is not children; it is those who prey on them. What are the Government doing to ensure that victims are properly supported and receive the justice they deserve?
The hon. Gentleman raises an incredibly important point that was picked up by the Casey report, all the recommendations of which the Government have accepted, and I have no doubt that the national inquiry will be very cognisant of the issues that he raises. Through the Criminal Justice Board, we will ensure that every part of the criminal justice system, from policing right through to prisons, probation and courts, is aware of how we deal with victims: with fairness and justice.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide specific measures or actions for supporting victims beyond vague assurances about fairness and justice.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from cases where convicted offenders received sentences that many consider insufficient, like Sohail Zaffer with 42 months, Manzoor Akhtar with four and a half years, and Ramin Bari with nine years total.
Sohail Zaffer raped a child. He received 42 months. Manzoor Akhtar raped a child. He was sentenced to four and a half years. Ramin Bari was convicted of four rapes. He got just nine years—just two years per rape. These men were sentenced, but not punished. Does the Justice Secretary think these sentences represent justice? If she does not, like most people in this country, will she change the law so that rape gang perpetrators receive full life sentences?
The right hon. Gentleman will know that I cannot and will not comment on individual sentences. I urge him to live up to the responsibility of being the shadow Lord Chancellor, because commenting in the way that he regularly does on individual sentencing decisions, stripped of context and without all the information, is wrong. Those are independent decisions made by the independent judiciary in individual cases.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State avoided addressing whether sentences for rape gang offenders are just or should be changed to full life terms.
Stripped Of Context And Without All The Information
Independent Decisions Made By The Independent Judiciary
Response accuracy