Criminal Justice System Support for Victims 2022-11-22
2022-11-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about victim support and the progress of the Victims Bill.
What steps are being taken to support victims in the criminal justice system, given that it has been seven years since the Victims Bill was first promised?
The draft Victims Bill was published in May after pre-legislative scrutiny. We are ready to bring it forward when parliamentary time allows, along with a victim surcharge. Funding for victims and witness support is being quadrupled compared to the last Labour Government.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeframe or concrete commitments on bringing forward the Victims Bill were not provided
Under Review
Quadrupling Funding
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns about ensuring that victims are not forgotten and that compensation is secured.
Will you give a commitment to include areas like holding the Crown Prosecution Service accountable when securing compensation for victims of crime in the Victims Bill?
The Victims Bill will place the victims code into law, increase oversight at police and crime commissioner level, and include a victim surcharge for restorative justice and extra compensation.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern about court delays affecting victims, including a case where a constituent was given a court date three years after being violently attacked.
What is the Secretary of State doing to address the backlog in courts and ensure justice is delivered for victims?
The Crown court backlog reduced from over 60,000 cases in June 2021 to under 58,000 by March 2022. The increase was due to the Criminal Bar Association's strike action.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures to reduce backlog and deliver justice for victims were not provided; instead focused on blame
Strike Action
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern about the law failing victims of non-consensual image sharing, including recommendations from the Law Commission.
Will my right hon. Friend look at including legislative changes to address non-consensual image sharing in the Online Safety Bill?
I am looking positively and actively at bringing forward legislative changes, and I will confirm the vehicle for that shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific legislative changes were not confirmed; only a commitment to look positively and actively was given
Looking Positively
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern about a local case where an offender was given permission to go abroad on holiday while awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two girls.
Does the Secretary of State agree that this is unacceptable and measures must be taken to prevent it?
I cannot comment on individual judicial cases, but I understand the concern. If he writes with details, I will look at this carefully.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the question directly; focused on inability to comment on specific cases
Cannot Comment On Individual Cases
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
Concern about constituents feeling let down by the justice system due to insufficient sentencing and lack of information.
Will my right hon. Friend or the relevant victims Minister meet me to discuss this case?
My hon. Friend will get a meeting with the victims Minister, Edward Argar. I cannot comment on individual cases but note increased sentencing through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern about delayed progress on the Victims Bill despite promises.
Why are the victims of crime not a priority for this Government, given that it has been seven years since the promise?
We published the draft Victims Bill in May after pre-legislative scrutiny. We are ready to bring it forward when parliamentary time allows, along with a victim surcharge.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeframe for bringing forward the Victims Bill was not provided; only readiness due to parliamentary time was stated
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent, Sarah, was sexually assaulted and endured a three-year wait for her trial. Despite winning the case, she felt humiliated by the process.
My constituent Sarah was sexually assaulted. After a three-year wait and a hugely traumatic trial, the defendant was found not guilty. Of her experiences in the criminal justice system, she said: “I felt like I was being publicly beaten and humiliated. I wouldn't advise anyone to go through it, they destroy you.” Can the Secretary of State tell me how survivors such as Sarah are supposed to trust the Government when, seven years on, we are still waiting for the victims Bill and he is under investigation for bullying?
I am afraid that the hon. Lady rather demeaned the important point that she was making by trying to score political points at the end. Let me answer directly: we appreciate the concerns that there are for any victim, particularly female victims of crime, whether that is sexual violence or non-sexual violence. That is why we have rolled out section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, which provides the opportunity to give pre-recorded evidence, and why, when we have the Victims Bill—
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Assessment & feedback
Delays in passing the Victims Bill and investigations into bullying
Score Political Points
Rather Demeaned The Important Point
Response accuracy