Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Criminal Justice System: Disclosure between Parties

Thursday 6 January 2022 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Effective disclosure is a vital part of the criminal justice process, and the Attorney General is undertaking the first annual review of disclosure guidelines.
  • The issue of bureaucratic requirements burdening police with disclosure tasks is acknowledged but no specific measures or timelines were provided to address it.
  • Guidance exists in the Attorney General's guidelines to ensure women reporting rape receive dignity and privacy, but no new concrete measures were announced to address current concerns.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rob Butler
Justice & Courts
Context

There has been ongoing discussion about the effectiveness of disclosure processes between parties in the UK's criminal justice system, crucial for fair trials and victims' rights.

Question

What recent steps have been taken to improve working practices on disclosure between all parties in the criminal justice system?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Effective disclosure is a vital part of the criminal justice process, and it is inseparable from the right to a fair trial. The Attorney General is now undertaking the first annual review of the disclosure guidelines to ensure that this complex area is continually monitored and that issues with profound implications for securing justice are identified and resolved.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps taken recently but mentioned an ongoing review

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Q2 Rob Butler
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

Local officers in Aylesbury face significant administrative burdens related to redacting video evidence, detracting from frontline duties.

Question

Police are burdened by overly bureaucratic requirements for disclosing evidence. What measures can be implemented to reduce the time spent on such tasks so police can focus more on their duties?

Answer from Alex Chalk

This issue is receiving very close and current attention, but no concrete measures or timelines were provided. The answer acknowledged the seriousness of the burden but did not commit to specific actions or a timeframe for addressing it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any specific measures or timeline to address the administrative burden on local officers.

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Q3 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Women & Equalities
Context

Despite the removal of digital data extraction forms, there is concern about a culture that could still lead to intrusive practices for women reporting sexual assault.

Question

How are you ensuring that women who report being raped receive the dignity, privacy, and respect they deserve without undermining necessary disclosure?

Answer from Alex Chalk

There is clear guidance in the Attorney General's guidelines, but no concrete new measures were announced to address current concerns about intrusive practices. The answer acknowledged the difficulty of balancing fair disclosure and protecting complainants' dignity without providing specific actions or timeline for improvement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any new specific measures or commitment to improve protection for survivors beyond existing guidelines.

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Q4 Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Justice & Courts
Context

The Court of Appeal recently ruled that the conviction of Ziad Akle was unsafe due to a failure in disclosure by the Serious Fraud Office, questioning its competence.

Question

Will the inquiry into the SFO's failure of disclosure be fully independent, including examining the Attorney General's role?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The inquiry was instituted swiftly after the judgment, but no commitment to full independence or inclusion of the Attorney General's role was made. The answer emphasized seriousness without committing to full independence or timeline for examination.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if the inquiry will be fully independent regarding examining the Attorney General's role.

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