Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Domestic Abuse Prosecutions: Covid-19

Thursday 24 September 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Crown Prosecution Service received an 85 million funding increase and recruited 390 additional prosecutors.
  • CPS statistics show a surge in domestic abuse complaints during the lockdown period.
  • Domestic abuse cases receive higher priority than other offences within the criminal justice system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The question arises from the concern that during the covid-19 lockdown, there has been an increase in domestic abuse cases requiring prosecution.

Question

I am concerned about the adequacy of Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) resources to pursue domestic abuse prosecutions arising from the covid-19 lockdown. What assessment have you made?

Answer from Michael Ellis

Despite the challenges posed by the covid-19 situation, the Crown Prosecution Service remains committed to bringing domestic abusers to justice. The service received an £85 million increase in funding from the Treasury last year and has successfully recruited 390 additional prosecutors.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific adequacy of CPS resources to handle increased cases was not directly addressed with specific figures or measures.

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Q2 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Statistics show an increase in reported domestic abuse cases during the lockdown, alongside concerns about underreporting due to circumstances.

Question

CPS statistics demonstrate a surge in domestic abuse complaints during the lockdown. Given this and the existence of hidden cases, what steps will be taken to ensure prompt handling of these cases?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The hon. Member is correct in raising this issue for Northumbria and the rest of the country. Domestic abuse cases continue to receive higher priority than other offences within our criminal justice system, as emphasized by recent guidance from the senior presiding judge on court listings.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific measures for quick handling were not detailed with concrete actions or timelines.

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