Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Hate Crime Prosecution

Thursday 6 February 2025 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Gordon questioned the Solicitor General about steps taken to ensure trans people feel safe and that hate crimes against them are prosecuted.
  • The Solicitor General responded that the CPS prosecutes cases that meet the full code test, acknowledging more work is needed regarding incidents involving trans people.
  • Andy Slaughter asked if the Solicitor General would look at fees to ensure there is not a shortage of advocates, particularly in serious cases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

February marks LGBT History Month, during which many people gathered to discuss progress in tackling hate crime against the LGBT community. The question specifically addresses concerns about trans individuals feeling safe and perpetrators being brought to justice.

Question

Why has many people come together in Speaker's House to hear about the progress made in tackling hate crime against the LGBT community? Will the Solicitor General outline what steps have been taken to ensure that trans people feel safe, and that perpetrators of hate crimes towards trans people are brought to justice?

Answer from The Solicitor General

The CPS prosecutes all cases that are referred to it, provided they meet the full code test for Crown prosecutors. There is more work to be done regarding incidents involving trans people. The CPS and police national hate crime leads are committed to joint working to increase the number of police referrals to the CPS for hate crime offences.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Solicitor General did not provide specific steps or actions taken to ensure that trans people feel safe, nor did they outline concrete measures for bringing perpetrators of hate crimes against them to justice.

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Q2 Andy Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Justice & Courts
Context

The criminal legal aid advisory board has requested that the Government raise fees in rape and serious sexual offences cases to address a shortage of advocates. Prosecutors earn significantly less than defence barristers in similar cases, leading to delays and adjournments.

Question

Does the Solicitor General think she should look at fees to ensure there is not a shortage of advocates, particularly in these serious cases?

Answer from The Solicitor General

My hon. Friend is right to identify this as a problem; discussions with RASSO charities in my constituency indicate that the shortage of counsel contributes directly to case adjournments and delays, leading to an unfortunate slow pace of justice and victim attrition. Ministers in the Ministry of Justice have committed to work with the Bar leadership via the criminal legal aid advisory board, and to look at longer-term reform of legal aid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging the problem, the Solicitor General did not commit to reviewing or increasing fees directly but indicated ongoing discussions for longer-term reform.

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