Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls: Prosecutions

Thursday 26 May 2022 · 7 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 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Attorney General has visited sexual assault referral centres to support victims and improve services throughout the criminal justice process.
  • The Home Office is closely examining spiking incidents and notes improvements in referrals, charges, and conviction rates, though more work is needed.
  • A CPS rape strategy has been published to improve collaboration and support for victims, showing a 24% increase in rape charges since Q4 2018.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about the number of prosecutions relating to violence against women and girls, seeking specific steps being taken.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions relating to violence against women and girls. The questioner wants to know concrete actions being implemented by the government.

Answer from Suella Braverman

I have seen at first hand the horrendous damage that these crimes do to victims, particularly when I was honoured to visit the Havens, which is a sexual assault referral centre. Supporting victims from report to police right through trial and sentencing is a service all deserve. Working closely with Lord Chancellor and Home Secretary for whole-system response. Notable change in volume of prosecutions increased by more than 10% from Q2 to Q3 in 2021-22.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps or timeline were given for increasing prosecutions.

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Q2 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

In 2020, one in twenty victims of sexual assault reported being drugged or spiked. Just 102 people were convicted for spiking offences in 2021. The MP is seeking clarification on the issue.

Question

Given the scale and seriousness of this spiking epidemic, does the Attorney General regard it as acceptable that just 102 people were convicted for spiking offences in the whole of 2021? What more is being done to tackle this?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Home Office looking closely at spiking. We take it seriously, concerned about increasing incidents. Data shows improvements in referrals, charges passed on to trial, conviction rate. Want to go further but see early signs of improvement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps or timeline were given for tackling spiking.

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Q3 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP has seen cases involving domestic violence where various parts of the criminal justice system seem to be operating in silos, preventing women from abusive ex-partners.

Question

What is the Attorney General doing to ensure that the various parts of the criminal justice system work together to increase prosecutions and protect these women?

Answer from Suella Braverman

A whole-system approach is required. End-to-end rape review announced last year, CPS published a rape strategy with improvements in every aspect of how it manages rape prosecutions: better collaboration, supporting more specialist units, ensuring support to victims. Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 set out provisions for increasing sentences to be served by rapists.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Focused on the Act's sentencing provisions rather than direct improvements in collaboration.

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Q4 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP references the joint inspectorate report into post-charge handling of rape cases, which includes damning conclusions and case studies.

Question

Does she accept the report's findings when it comes to the way the system is failing survivors of rape? Will she give us both a commitment and a timetable to implement its recommendations?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Concerned about need for improvement. CPS committed to driving up rape prosecutions; recent data shows 24% increase in volume of CPS rape charges since Q4 2018, 70% rape conviction rate. Optimism but more work needed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Focus on positive trends rather than addressing report's findings or commitment to implementation timeline.

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Q5 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Ukraine
Context

The MP highlights violence against women and girls by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

Question

Can the Attorney General assure the House that she will give every assistance to the Ukrainian prosecuting authorities to ensure that prosecutions will one day take place?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Honoured to go to Ukraine, visited Prosecutor General. She has already brought and led some charges against Russian suspects; one soldier sentenced for war crime despite challenging circumstances.

Answered
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Q6 Peter Bone Con
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

The MP highlights the lack of successful prosecutions for modern slavery victims in Wales and asks about expanding a scheme to help.

Question

Will the Attorney General look at expanding the victim navigator scheme to Wales in association with Justice and Care?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Grateful for raising issue. Hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner on this subject; commits to looking more into what can be done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment was vague without specifics.

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Q7 Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The question follows an incident where an MI5 informant allegedly committed domestic violence, including attacking a partner with a machete. The BBC was involved in legal proceedings to protect the victim's rights.

Question

May I add my welcome to our friends from Ukraine? In January, the Attorney General told the House: 'This Government take tackling domestic abuse and hate crime extremely seriously'. Why has she spent the months since then taking the BBC through the High Court to protect an MI5 informant who attacked one partner with a machete and another partner predicted will kill a woman if he is not challenged and exposed? One of his victims is now taking her case to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, but does this not demand a fuller investigation? Rather than disregard the interests of domestic violence victims where the security services are involved, will the Attorney General support an inquiry by the Intelligence and Security Committee into the handling of this case and whether it raises wider concerns that agents are able to use their status to evade criminal responsibility?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Of course, any allegation of domestic abuse or sexual assault on victims is horrendous. On no account does anyone in this Government condone that behaviour. I was very pleased with the result at court of our application for an injunction, because there are national security interests, and it is vital that those are balanced in any matter. The Government are taking huge steps to support victims of domestic abuse. We passed a landmark piece of legislation, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which brought in key measures, key duties and investment to support those who are victims of this heinous crime. I hope the Labour party will get behind that ongoing work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Attorney General avoided addressing the specific request for a fuller investigation and an Intelligence and Security Committee inquiry into the case involving the MI5 informant.

How: On No Account Does Anyone In This Government Condone That Behaviour, I Was Very Pleased With The Result At Court Of Our Application For An Injunction

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