Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defendants: Mental Health

Thursday 10 February 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Recent assessment shows new training for prosecutors and improved information sharing between agencies.
  • CPS is developing a mental health flag on its case management system.
  • Minister welcomes the use of mental health treatment requirement orders and commits to engaging with other Ministers for funding.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

The question arises from concerns about the adequacy of support for individuals in the criminal justice system who have mental health issues.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the CPS in handling cases where the defendant has a mental health condition or disorder?

Answer from Alex Chalk

New and refreshed training has been rolled out for prosecutors, information sharing between agencies is being improved and the CPS is developing a mental health flag on its case management system. These positive steps were recently recognised in a criminal justice joint inspection report.

Answered
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Q2 Selaine Saxby
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

The question stems from the growing use of mental health treatment requirement orders for offenders with community orders or suspended sentences, requiring sufficient funding to ensure their long-term adoption.

Question

Does my hon. and learned Friend welcome the greater use of mental health treatment requirement orders for offenders subject to community orders or suspended sentences? Will he engage with Ministers across justice and health services to ensure that sufficient funding is in place to enable the long-term adoption of this approach in Devon?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Yes and yes. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to welcome the use of mental health treatment requirement orders, because they provide courts in Devon and elsewhere with a powerful tool to rehabilitate offenders at the same time as ensuring they are properly punished for their crimes. Thanks to record support through the NHS long-term plan funding, plans are on track to introduce primary care MHTRs to half of England by 2023.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

The question addresses the need for additional support and services for people with disabilities such as hearing impairment during legal proceedings.

Question

In addition to those with mental health disorders, people with other disabilities such as hearing impairment require additional support in court. This House has taken steps to make that happen for those who are hearing impaired. Can the Minister advise what services are deemed necessary for trial proceedings to take place for those with hearing impairment disabilities?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The hon. Gentleman raises a really important point. Whether someone is a victim, a witness or a defendant, they have the right to be able to hear what is going on in court. There are of course facilities already in place—hearing loops and so on—but the court retains the discretion to ensure that special measures are in place so that defendants can have the right to a fair trial and witnesses can have their voices heard.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specify what additional services or funding is available specifically for hearing impaired individuals beyond mentioning existing facilities like hearing loops.

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