Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Grooming Gangs: Criminal Justice System

Tuesday 8 July 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Lamont raised concerns about victim blaming in cases of child abuse by grooming gangs, emphasizing that the issue lies with perpetrators, not victims.
  • The Secretary of State acknowledged the importance of addressing the issues raised by John Lamont, referencing the Casey report and the acceptance of its recommendations by the Government.
  • Robert Jenrick questioned the Justice Secretary about perceived leniency in sentencing of convicted rapists, highlighting specific cases to illustrate his point.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

Thousands of children across the UK have been abused by grooming gangs, with charities warning that police and other authorities still engage in victim blaming.

Question

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for her response. Thousands of children across the UK have been abused by grooming gangs, yet charities still warn of victim blaming by police and those in authority. We should be clear that the problem is not children; it is those who prey on them. What are the Government doing to ensure that victims are properly supported and receive the justice they deserve?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The hon. Gentleman raises an incredibly important point that was picked up by the Casey report, all the recommendations of which the Government have accepted, and I have no doubt that the national inquiry will be very cognisant of the issues that he raises. Through the Criminal Justice Board, we will ensure that every part of the criminal justice system, from policing right through to prisons, probation and courts, is aware of how we deal with victims: with fairness and justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific measures or actions for supporting victims beyond vague assurances about fairness and justice.

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Q2 Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Justice & Courts
Context

The question arises from cases where convicted offenders received sentences that many consider insufficient, like Sohail Zaffer with 42 months, Manzoor Akhtar with four and a half years, and Ramin Bari with nine years total.

Question

Sohail Zaffer raped a child. He received 42 months. Manzoor Akhtar raped a child. He was sentenced to four and a half years. Ramin Bari was convicted of four rapes. He got just nine years—just two years per rape. These men were sentenced, but not punished. Does the Justice Secretary think these sentences represent justice? If she does not, like most people in this country, will she change the law so that rape gang perpetrators receive full life sentences?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The right hon. Gentleman will know that I cannot and will not comment on individual sentences. I urge him to live up to the responsibility of being the shadow Lord Chancellor, because commenting in the way that he regularly does on individual sentencing decisions, stripped of context and without all the information, is wrong. Those are independent decisions made by the independent judiciary in individual cases.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State avoided addressing whether sentences for rape gang offenders are just or should be changed to full life terms.

How: Stripped Of Context And Without All The Information, Independent Decisions Made By The Independent Judiciary

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