Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Recent Disorder

Tuesday 10 September 2024 · 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 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The criminal justice system has processed 576 individuals with 123 receiving custodial sentences.
  • The Government prioritizes resolving court infrastructure issues to ensure victims can access justice.
  • A review will examine past government actions affecting the current state of the prison system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Baker Lab Aldershot
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Recent violent disorder occurred over the summer, and there are concerns about its impact on the criminal justice system.

Question

What assessment she has made of the impact of recent disorder on the criminal justice system?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

The criminal justice system rose to the challenge brought about by the violent disorder. As of 22 August, 576 individuals have been brought before the courts. Of those, 123 have been given a custodial sentence by the Crown court.

Answered
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Q2 Linsey Farnsworth Lab Amber Valley
Justice & Courts
Context

The court backlog has worsened due to repair issues causing courts to close, affecting access to justice for victims.

Question

What is the Secretary of State doing to address the repairs needed to the court estate so that victims in my constituency can get access to justice?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

It is crucial that courts are able to sit without infrastructure preventing it. It will be a priority for the Government to resolve these issues, so cases can be heard and victims given justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific actions or timeline to address repairs

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Q3 Alex Baker Lab Aldershot
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

There have been concerns about running out of prison places, with the Prime Minister describing this as a fundamental failure. The questioner refers to this issue.

Question

Who does the Lord Chancellor blame for the shortage of prison places, and will she seek an apology from the Conservative party?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

An apology is required given the state of the prison system inherited. A review into how this situation occurred will be launched, blaming previous government actions that ignored warnings for political gain.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific blame or timeline for an apology

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Q4 Neil O'Brien Con Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

The Government have found prison places for those involved in recent disorder through early release policies. There are concerns about who qualifies for this.

Question

Will the Secretary of State confirm that those guilty of manslaughter can get early release, and explain why?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

The prison system inherited was on the brink of collapse. Early releases were necessary due to capacity issues, but important exclusions exist based on offence and sentence. The answer will not provide a running commentary on specific cases affected by SDS40 policy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific details about who qualifies for early release under the current policy

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