Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls: Prosecution Rates

Thursday 19 October 2023 · 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

  • Ministerial commitment to tackling violence against women and girls includes introducing new specific offences.
  • Government working on new ways to recognize the relationship between rape, domestic abuse, and stalking.
  • Crown Prosecution Service reports positive results from a new charging model in Wales.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

Ruth Jones highlights the low prosecution rates for violence against women and girls, citing it as insufficient.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for cases relating to violence against women and girls. Prosecution rates remain low, which is simply not good enough.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls, and have introduced new specific offences to target those crimes. We are steadily increasing the number of rape prosecutions. Working on new ways to recognise the relationship between rape, domestic abuse and stalking.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or actions taken to increase prosecution rates.

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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Cunningham references a Labour conference statement noting that women are 200 times more likely to be stalked than for the stalker to face jail time.

Question

Does the Attorney General agree it is time we treat stalking with seriousness, including giving victims of online stalking the right to know their stalker's identity?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The Government are committed to helping stalking victims bring cases to prosecution. The Lord Chancellor has made tackling stalking a mission; working in the CPS on new ways of ensuring that the relationship between rape, domestic abuse and stalking is properly considered across the system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly agree or disagree with the proposal for victims' right to know their stalker's identity.

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Q3 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

Jones marks White Ribbon Day, highlighting the need to increase prosecution rates for violence against women and girls.

Question

What discussions has the Attorney General had with colleagues across Government about White Ribbon Day? What more can be done to increase prosecution rates?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

A great deal of work is going on across Government. A great deal of good work in Wales with Jenny Hopkins, chief Crown prosecutor, who has brought positive results from the new CPS charging model.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide details of discussions related to White Ribbon Day.

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Q4 Bob Neill Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Neill references recent Justice Committee evidence about efforts to improve the victim experience in rape and serious sexual offences.

Question

Would the Attorney General accept that there has been real progress from 10 years ago? What is the latest position on key targets set from the end-to-end rape review?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

There has been real improvement. Challenging targets were set, worked hard across Government on three specific targets. Many more cases of rape are being prosecuted and rapists convicted. We need to continue building on this progress.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide the latest status on key targets from the end-to-end rape review.

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