Hate Crime Sentences 2020-11-05
2020-11-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
No specific context or statistics provided, the question seeks an assessment of the CPS's effectiveness.
What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the CPS in securing sentence uplifts in hate crime cases?
I recognise the devastating impact that hate crimes have on victims and communities, and the CPS is committed to bringing offenders to justice. Training for prosecutors draws on input from key community groups, helping to improve the prosecution response to hate crime. In the 12 months to the end of June this year, the proportion of convictions for hate crime with a recorded sentence uplift increased to 78.4%, which is the highest rate yet.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP heard from victims during a virtual session hosted by Jay Singh-Sohal, highlighting the need for better support at all stages of the judicial process.
Having heard directly from victims of hate crime in the west midlands about their experiences and needs throughout the judicial process, will my right hon. and learned Friend commit to working with the CPS and police to ensure that victims feel supported enough to report incidents?
I thank my hon. Friend for her work with the Holocaust Educational Trust and on tackling antisemitism. I visited the CPS East of England yesterday, and heard about its great work on tackling hate crime. The CPS works closely around the country with members of the community to ensure that the approach to hate crime prosecutions is sensitive and provides sufficient support to victims. For example, the CPS recently met key groups representing the Jewish community to discuss antisemitism, and it delivered a webinar for Chinese and south-east Asian communities.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific actions or timelines to improve victim support
Response accuracy