Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Domestic Violence Prosecutions

Thursday 20 May 2021 · 6 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 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions on Domestic Violence Prosecutions held on 2021-05-20
  • Crown Prosecution Service's case load increased by 88%, with a conviction rate of 78.7% in quarter 3 of 2020-21
  • Government allocated 76 million to support victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and modern slavery, with over 85 million for the Crown Prosecution Service

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michael Ellis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on whether current resourcing level is sufficient or address the 88% caseload increase against budget cuts.

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Q2 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michael Ellis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to supporting Labour's green paper.

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Q3 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

The number of domestic abuse-related prosecutions fell by 22% in the year ending March 2020, despite a 9% increase in recorded crimes.

Question

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?

Answer from Michael Ellis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to introducing properly funded specialist domestic violence courts.

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Q4 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michael Ellis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to adopting Labour's draft survivors' plan or supporting the green paper.

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Q5 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michael Ellis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to adopting Labour's draft survivors' plan or supporting the green paper.

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Q6 Angela Crawley SNP
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michael Ellis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not provide specific details about current processes or mechanisms in place for investigating complaints against police involving domestic abuse.

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