Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

New Sentencing Powers: Levels of Crime

Monday 7 June 2021 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Esther McVey inquired about the potential effect of new sentencing powers on levels of crime.
  • Esther McVey congratulated the Government on plans to extend sentences for assaulting emergency workers.
  • The Government are considering reflecting assaults on shop workers and other frontline staff through existing sentencing guidelines.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Esther McVey Con Tatton
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP asks about the impact of new sentencing powers on levels of crime. She seeks an assessment of these effects.

Question

What assessment has she made of the potential effect of new sentencing powers on levels of crime?

Answer from Chris Philp

This Government are serious about fighting crime and making sure the criminal justice system is one the public can have confidence in. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill sees increased sentences for causing death by dangerous driving to life and longer prison terms for serious offences such as rape.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment of potential effects on crime levels was not provided; only general statements about seriousness were given.

How: This Government Are Serious About Fighting Crime, Build Public Confidence And Keep The Public Safer

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Q2 Esther McVey Con Tatton
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP wants to discuss specific measures against assaulting frontline workers. She references the doubling of assaults since the pandemic began.

Question

She congratulates the Government on plans to extend sentences for assaulting emergency workers and asks if there should be a specific offence for assaulting shop workers and other customer-facing frontline workers, given that such assaults have doubled during the pandemic.

Answer from Chris Philp

The Government are doubling sentences for common assault of emergency workers from one year to two years. Sentencing Council guidelines already make it an aggravating factor if the victim deals with the public, allowing judges to reflect this when sentencing retail and other frontline workers.

Answered
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