Public Confidence in Victim Support 2024-05-14
2024-05-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Public confidence in the support provided to victims throughout the criminal justice process is under scrutiny.
What steps his Department is taking to help ensure public confidence in the support provided to victims throughout the criminal justice process?
With the Victims and Prisoners Bill, we are putting the victims code on a statutory footing. It includes a right for any victim of crime to be signposted by the police to correct and appropriate support services. We have quadrupled victims funding since we took office in 2010 to over £150 million a year, and have recruited almost 1,000 independent sexual violence advisers and independent domestic violence advisers into the criminal justice system. In addition, we provide a range of freephone support lines, including a 24/7 hotline for rape.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Rapists, domestic abusers, and stalkers cannot be convicted if trials do not proceed due to a record court backlog.
Where is the Government's plan to tackle the record court backlog, which is making victims wait years for justice?
We are doing a huge amount to drive down the backlog, which was principally a result of the pandemic. We have increased the fees for both solicitors and barristers by 15%; we have kept open more than 20 Nightingale courts; and we are doing everything within our power to drive down waiting times.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Harrow Crown court is not set to reopen for another year due to delayed repairs.
Bearing in mind that Harrow Crown court is not set to reopen for another year because of Ministers' failure to invest in its repairs early enough, what confidence can victims of crime in Harrow have that Ministers are going to get those who are accused of those crimes to justice much more quickly than is currently the case?
As the hon. Gentleman will know, the issue with Harrow Crown court is that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete was discovered in that building. We are investing more than £220 million in the court estate, because we know how much it matters, not just so that the courts are functioning, but so that the buildings convey the right sense of dignity so that people respect the process. Harrow is just one of 350 courts in England and Wales.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific timeline for justice delivery was not addressed.
Changing Subject To General Court Investments
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a particular issue with delays in cases of rape and serious sexual offences due to lack of available prosecuting counsel.
Does she agree that there is now just one piece of the jigsaw that needs to be put in place: to bring the fees for prosecuting counsel in those cases up to the same level as those for defence counsel? That would take about £1.5 million. Will she sit down with the Attorney General and talk with her about how we can do that swiftly?
I can reassure my hon. and learned Friend, the Chair of the Select Committee, that I spoke to the chair of the Bar Council about exactly that issue last week, but I want to provide him with further reassurance. First, there has been correspondence between the Lord Chancellor and the senior presiding judge about any case of rape that is more than two years old. That correspondence is a couple of months old, and he said that all cases would be listed by July this year—that applies to 181 cases in England and Wales. I also want to draw my hon. and learned Friend's attention to something I know he will be aware of: that we have increased the fees for section 28 hearings, which take place in an irregular sequence in the court listing, from £670 to over £1,000.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific fee increase was not confirmed and details of meeting were vague.
Providing Unrelated Fee Increases
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
There is an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill regarding the publication of a yearly report on crime statistics by nationality.
Does the Minister support the release of such a report, and what does she think civil servants are worried we will find out? It is time to publish a report and restore trust among the general public.
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I was not aware of that, but I knew that an amendment had been suggested that was not within the scope of the Bill. My hon. Friend's suggestion is a sensible one; we already publish the number of foreign national offenders in prison, but I understand the force of her question, and I am happy to meet her to discuss it further.
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Assessment & feedback
No clear support or opposition was stated for releasing the report.
Saying Not Aware
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
A letter supports Dr Charlotte Proudman who is facing disciplinary action after challenging a judge's attitude towards domestic abuse cases.
Does the Minister agree that the racial, gender and class-based bias of the justice system must be addressed and that it is right to speak up against injustice? Will she join me in paying tribute to those who are campaigning for a legal sector that genuinely represents, empowers, and is accountable to the wider public?
I count myself as one of the people who campaigns on violence against women, and there are many other right hon. and hon. Members across this House who do the same thing. The hon. Lady will understand, I hope, why I will not get involved in a disciplinary matter concerning a particular barrister. I know what it is said has been said, and it will be for the relevant standards committee to decide whether or not the barrister is at fault.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address addressing racial, gender, class-based bias directly.
Refusing To Comment On Disciplinary Matters
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from the speaker's previous role as Victims Minister, where he advocated for victim rights in cases involving death by careless driving. Currently, there is no appeal process for leniency when a loved one was killed due to careless driving.
I am concerned that if someone is charged with death by careless driving, the case cannot be appealed for leniency by victims compared to death by dangerous driving cases. Is this still under review?
I share my right hon. Friend's concern about death caused by either dangerous or careless driving. The Conservative Government created a criminal offence of death by careless driving, and on 28 June 2022, the maximum penalty for death by dangerous driving was increased to life. We have also agreed to extend the unduly lenient sentence scheme so that complainants will have 28 days to appeal to the Attorney General and Solicitor General, who then have 14 days to contact the court.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address whether death by careless driving cases would be made appealable for leniency.
Changing Subject To Penalties And Extension Of Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Recent news revealed that high-risk offenders have been released early, which contradicts previous assurances from the Government. This has raised public concern about victim rights and justice.
Victims should know who this Government is letting out of jail early. Given today's revelation that high-risk offenders are being released prematurely, why should the public trust this Government to prioritise victims' interests?
Under our scheme, no sexual offender, terrorist offender, or individual convicted of serious violent crime can be eligible for early release. We also have a governor lock system that allows prison governors to prevent unsuitable releases.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific concern about high-risk offenders being released prematurely.
Emphasising Distinctions Between Current And Previous Government Schemes
Response accuracy