Topical Questions 2020-09-28
2020-09-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Following the murder of Sergeant Matt Ratana, Richard Burgon seeks clarity on the Home Secretary's commitment to protecting officers and addressing violence against them.
The questioner asked if the government will make a statement on its departmental responsibilities in light of Sergeant Matt Ratana's tragic death. He highlighted that this incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by police every day, and requested details on measures to protect officers, including doubling sentences for attacks on emergency workers and legislating a police covenant.
Last Friday, we saw the senseless murder of police sergeant Matt Ratana while he was on duty in Croydon. His tragic death is a reminder of the risks that officers face every day to keep us safe. The House joins me in paying tribute to his courage and sending condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. A murder investigation is under way, and I remain in regular contact with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. I will continue to support them, including by doubling sentences for attacks on emergency workers and legislating a police covenant.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Public and Commercial Services union has raised concerns about Serco's involvement in asylum interview processes, citing the company's past failures in running key public services.
The PCS union is concerned that Serco could be awarded contracts to carry out sensitive asylum interviews despite its history of failing to manage such responsibilities effectively. The questioner argues that this puts vulnerable individuals at risk and requests a commitment not to award such contracts to private companies like Serco.
The hon. Gentleman has heard our commitment to protecting those seeking asylum through proper phased interviews. The Government pursue individuals who facilitate criminality and are looking at new safe legal routes for protection.
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Assessment & feedback
Whether the government will not award contracts to Serco or other private contractors
Committed
Right Manner
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner points out that the UK is not a major destination for asylum seekers but faces challenges in establishing claims due to current policies.
Someone must be physically present in the UK to establish an asylum claim, creating a catch-22 situation. The questioner asks about plans to create safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to prevent traffickers from exploiting these individuals illegally.
The hon. Friend is right about the need for safe and legal routes while pursuing those facilitating criminality. The Government work on new routes for protection of those in need.
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Assessment & feedback
Details of specific plans to create safe and legal routes
Committed
Right Manner
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Following the death of Sergeant Matt Ratana, concerns are raised about rising levels of violence against police officers and the increasing presence of firearms on the streets.
National Police Federation Chair John Apter has noted an increase in firearms seized from criminals. The questioner asks what additional steps the government is taking to deal with this rise in firearm possession and protect police officers.
The Government work on legislation for more police powers, collaborating with intelligence agencies to tackle firearms entering the country. This includes intercepting criminals and component parts of weapons.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
There has been a year-long absence of meetings for the Violent Crime Task Force, leaving a strategic gap in addressing rising levels of violent crime.
The questioner notes that the Violent Crime Task Force has not met for over a year and requests a commitment to work cross-party on convening a replacement taskforce focused on addressing violent crime drivers.
The Government address serious violence through the National Policing Board. Funding is going directly to policing, and the Serious Violence Reduction Taskforce operates actively.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to convening a new cross-party strategic taskforce
Committed
Working
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
A report entitled “The Limits of Consent” produced by the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission calls for action against sex buyers driving the sex slave industry.
The questioner invites a meeting with colleagues regarding the report on tackling demand from sex buyers who drive the sex slave industry. She requests specific steps being taken to address this issue.
The hon. Lady's question is welcomed, and I will commit to a meeting regarding her report on tackling demand from sex buyers driving exploitation.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Select Committee heard evidence from the counter-extremism commissioner and the national counter-terror chief on how extremists have exploited the COVID crisis. They called for a new co-ordinated action against extremism.
I join the tributes to Sergeant Matt Ratana. No one should ever underestimate the bravery of police officers and the risks they take to keep us all safe. Last week, the Select Committee heard evidence from the counter-extremism commissioner and the national counter-terror chief on the way in which extremists have exploited the covid crisis, and they called for new, co-ordinated action against extremism to be set up through a taskforce led by the Home Secretary. That is something that was first recommended over a year ago. Does the Home Secretary agree that we need this co-ordinated action as part of the vital work to protect our national security, and if so, why has the taskforce not yet been set up? Why has it not yet met?
I met Sara Khan last week and had a very constructive discussion with her about ways of working—not just the work of the taskforce but the entire field of counter-extremism, the work that is associated, and the lessons to be learned from the past. Obviously we are using the expertise of the Committee itself to look at learnings and how we can address the threat spectrum across the board. We have many experienced practitioners in this field and I am working with Sara Khan and others to develop learnings and look at the approach that we are going to take.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific commitment or timeline for establishing the taskforce was not provided
Response accuracy
Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
None specified in background.
We owe our frontline police officers a debt of gratitude. I recently saw at first hand the great work that they do when I joined Thames Valley police for a night shift as part of its ride-along scheme in Bracknell. Home Secretary, is it now time to enshrine the police covenant in law?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I pay tribute to Thames Valley police. It is an exceptional and outstanding police force, and I know his community is served well by it. He has heard my remarks on the police covenant, and it is absolutely right that we do much more to protect our frontline officers and their family members and provide the welfare support that they all need as well. I absolutely concur with all Members of the House in recognising that Friday's murder highlights why we need to put that into law.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
My constituent Angela was detained in 2011. She was abandoned in the UK as a child with a man who imprisoned her, beat and raped her until she escaped.
My constituent Angela was detained in 2011. She was abandoned in the UK as a child with a man who imprisoned her. He and others beat and repeatedly raped her until she escaped as a teenager. Two clinical professionals and a human trafficking expert have reported to the Home Office that her story is credible. The Home Office refuses to consider this evidence, insisting that Angela is covering up her true identity, and it has attempted to deport her. Will the Home Secretary conduct an urgent review of Angela's case, please?
I ask the hon. Member to contact me directly with the background and history of this particular case, and I will look into it.
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Assessment & feedback
No direct commitment or timeline for a review was provided
Response accuracy
Q10
Direct Answer
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Context
The constituency has seen a real spate of antisocial motorcyclists causing distress and potential danger to constituents.
This summer, my constituency has seen a real spate of antisocial motorcyclists causing real distress and potential danger to my constituents. Does the Home Secretary agree that such dangerous driving needs to be robustly challenged?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I pay tribute to his police force in particular and his police chief for the outstanding work they do. I know that rural crime was mentioned earlier, but when it comes to tackling nuisance driving and, frankly, the wrong kind of driving—speeding and all those types of issues, including on mopeds and scooters—we need to ensure that people can go about their daily lives. We are already providing more funding for more police activity through police uplift, and the police have powers under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Police Reform Act 2002 to seize vehicles that are being driven illegally.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The Treasury Committee reported that an estimated £90 billion of dirty money was laundered through the City of London every year. The FinCEN report highlights system gaps in dealing with economic crime.
Last year, the Treasury Committee reported on economic crime, finding that an estimated £90 billion of dirty money was laundered through the City of London every year. As the Home Secretary will know, economic crime is not victimless; it includes human trafficking, child sexual abuse and exploitation, the sale of illegal drugs and firearms, and much else. In the light of the recent FinCEN—Financial Crimes Enforcement Network—report, as reported by “Panorama”, what action will the Home Secretary take to redouble her efforts to get a grip on this kind of financial crime?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. She has highlighted the gross severity of what is taking place, not just with economic crime, but with how our financial systems are associated with the facilitation of dirty money. Of course, we as a country do not want to be associated with that, and much more needs to happen. The FinCEN example was a very strong indication as to where there have been gaps in the system, and extensive work is taking place right now. I would be more than happy for her to discuss with officials more of the work being undertaken in this area, because there are far too many sources of illegal economic finance and perpetrators of economic crime. There is no doubt that, through our international financial system, we can all do a lot more.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or timeline for addressing the issues raised were provided
Response accuracy
Q12
Direct Answer
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Context
Frontline police officers have performed an incredible service throughout the pandemic, keeping us safe while putting themselves in danger.
Our frontline police officers have performed an incredible service throughout the pandemic, keeping us safe while putting themselves in the line of danger, as we saw so tragically with the killing of Sussex officer Matt Ratana. That job is not made any easier when groups of demonstrators take it upon themselves to flout social distancing regulations and take their anger out on the police. Does the Home Secretary agree that there is no excuse for such irresponsible gatherings at this time, however worthy people think their cause is, and that they should desist? May I also echo the calls by my hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell (James Sunderland) for us speedily to enshrine the police covenant in law?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is right to point out a number of key facts. Assaults on police officers are thoroughly unacceptable, and I am afraid that this weekend alone we saw a range of assaults on officers serving in the Metropolitan police when they were policing protests. Those were ugly and unacceptable scenes, and there is simply no excuse for assaults. The other point to make is that we are in a national emergency—we are still in a health pandemic—and the police are working valiantly to attempt to stop the spread of the virus. The public are acting brilliantly by being conscientious, undertaking the measures and safeguarding in the right kind of way. It is right that we all play our own role, but to turn our fire on the police is completely wrong. It is inappropriate at every level, and the public, not just when it comes to protest but in their conduct in respect of coronavirus, must be conscientious and respect the police in every way.
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Assessment & feedback
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