Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

CPS Prosecutions: Serious Crime

Thursday 18 November 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • CPS is working with the National Crime Agency and other partners to improve prosecution rates for serious crimes.
  • Kevin Hollinrake raised the issue of a new criminal offence to prevent failure to prevent economic crime.
  • The Law Commission published a discussion document on corporate criminal liability earlier in the year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The question pertains to the steps being taken by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to improve prosecution rates in serious criminal cases, which is a matter of public concern.

Question

What steps the CPS is taking to help improve prosecution rates for serious crime.

Answer from Alex Chalk

Through its three national central casework divisions and 13 regional complex casework units, the CPS continues to work with the National Crime Agency and other criminal justice partners to bring offenders to justice for a range of serious crimes, including serious and organised crime, terrorism, and serious and complex economic crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about steps to improve prosecution rates was not directly addressed with concrete actions or figures. Instead, the answer provides an overview of existing structures without specifics on new initiatives for improvement.

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Q2 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The question addresses the need for a new criminal offence to prevent companies from failing to take sufficient measures against economic crime, which is expected to increase prosecution rates. This follows an initiative by the Serious Fraud Office.

Question

The Serious Fraud Office has made clear that a new criminal offence of failure to prevent economic crime would significantly increase the number of successful prosecutions for fraud. What steps are we taking to bring that about?

Answer from Alex Chalk

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. Economic crime is not a victimless crime; it strikes at the very heart of the society that we want to be. I am pleased to see that the Law Commission published its discussion document on corporate criminal liability earlier this year. Both the CPS and the SFO provided input, and took part in a series of events to share their operational insights. The Law Commission is aiming to publish an options paper early next year, and will then work with the Government to implement any next steps.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about legislative proposals or concrete steps was not directly addressed. Instead, the answer discussed ongoing consultations and future plans without clear commitments on implementation.

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