Domestic Violence Prosecutions
2021-05-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Crown Prosecution Service reported an increase in the domestic abuse caseload by 88% against a backdrop of a 25% reduction in police and CPS funding.
What steps he has taken to increase the number of prosecutions relating to domestic violence. The 'Evidence led domestic abuse prosecutions' report states that the domestic abuse caseload for both the CPS and the police has increased by 88% against a backdrop of a 25% reduction in police and CPS funding. Does the Attorney General think that the current level of resourcing to tackle domestic abuse is sufficient?
The Crown Prosecution Service's case load has increased considerably. The conviction rate rose to 78.7% in quarter 3 of 2020-21, up from 77.4%. The Government have recently announced several funding packages specifically on domestic abuse, including funding to deal with the effects of the covid-19 crisis as it relates to domestic abuse. The decrease in the volume of overall prosecutions due to the impact of covid-19 is a factor, but this Government are funding this area and giving particular focus to it.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on whether current resourcing level is sufficient or address the 88% caseload increase against budget cuts.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault are facing unprecedented backlogs, with many forced to wait over a year for their day in court.
The criminal justice system is facing unprecedented backlogs, with survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault forced to wait more than a year for their day in court. The Queen's Speech was an opportunity for the Government to address these failings, but it was an opportunity missed. Labour's “Ending Violence Against Women and Girls” green paper was announced this week and is ready to go. Will the Attorney General support it?
This Government introduced the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which is a significant step forward. In a recent case that I conducted myself in the Court of Appeal, the offender's sentence for extremely violent domestic abuse was increased from nine years to 15 years on my application. The criminal justice system prioritises domestic abuse and the Government are focused on this area.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to supporting Labour's green paper.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The number of domestic abuse-related prosecutions fell by 22% in the year ending March 2020, despite a 9% increase in recorded crimes.
When I asked the Secretary of State for Justice how many specialist domestic violence courts have been in operation over the past 10 years, he could not give me an answer. Will the Attorney General commit to our proposals, set out in our 'Ending Violence Against Women and Girls' green paper, to introduce properly funded specialist domestic violence courts across the country?
The CPS's domestic abuse best practice framework seeks to address the withdrawal rates. Prosecutions have gone down across the board because of the impact of the covid pandemic. However, work is being done on the framework to encourage more timely court listings and reduce victim attrition.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to introducing properly funded specialist domestic violence courts.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Domestic abuse-related prosecutions fell by 22% in the year ending March 2020, despite a recorded crime increase. New figures show that 44% of rape victims give up before their trial.
What is even more worrying is that domestic abuse prosecutions now seem to be going the same way as rape prosecutions, which are at their lowest recorded level, and new figures show that 44% of rape victims give up before their trial. Will the Attorney General adopt our fully drafted survivors support plan for rape victims and will he commit to backing Labour's violence against women and girls green paper?
The criminal justice system is a high focus for addressing domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery. This Government have allocated £76 million to support victims of these issues and are creating 20,000 more police officers. The Crown Prosecution Service has been funded closer to £100 million.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to adopting Labour's draft survivors' plan or supporting the green paper.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The number of domestic abuse-related prosecutions fell by 22% in the year ending March 2020, despite a recorded crime increase. New figures show that 44% of rape victims give up before their trial.
It is interesting that the right hon. and learned Gentleman says his party is ahead when it is Labour that has set out a green paper to tackle these issues head-on. What is even more worrying is that domestic abuse prosecutions now seem to be going the same way as rape prosecutions, which are at their lowest recorded level, and new figures show that 44% of rape victims give up before their trial. Will the Attorney General adopt our fully drafted survivors support plan for rape victims and will he commit to backing Labour's violence against women and girls green paper, or will he continue to sit on his hands and allow the continued systemic failing of the criminal justice system for women and girls in England and Wales?
It is this Government who have put the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on the statute book. The Government have also allocated £76 million to support victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery. This funding includes over £85 million for the Crown Prosecution Service.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to adopting Labour's draft survivors' plan or supporting the green paper.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Centre for Women's Justice reported that one woman every week over the past two years has faced domestic abuse from their police officer spouse or partner, with all women surveyed stating that the police failed to investigate their cases.
According to the Centre for Women's Justice, one woman every week for the last two years has reported domestic abuse by their police officer spouse or partner, and every woman it spoke to said that the police had failed to investigate their case. Given the severity of these statistics, how confident is the Attorney General that the correct processes are in place in the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that complaints involving the police are investigated objectively?
The issue of the police is a matter for the Home Office, but I would say that I know the police are working very hard to prioritise and focus on these domestic abuse cases, and they do seek to achieve the very best possible results in all circumstances. There are tried and tested mechanisms for making complaints against the police available to anyone who feels a complaint is appropriate and justified. We have worked very hard to produce the Domestic Abuse Act which covers multiple areas that will protect women and girls.
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Assessment & feedback
The Attorney General did not provide specific details about current processes or mechanisms in place for investigating complaints against police involving domestic abuse.
Response accuracy