Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Criminal Cases Review Commission

12 March 2024 · 2 other contributors · 4,299 words

Opened by Damian Collins Con Folkestone and Hythe

Responding minister: Laura Farris

Justice & Courts

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Damian Collins raised concerns about criminal cases review commission in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the Criminal Cases Review Commission's handling of Paul Cleeland's case since 1972
  • Asked the Minister to acknowledge errors and for the CCRC to reconsider Mr Cleeland's case
  • Minister discussed the CCRC's role, noting it has referred 836 cases and resulted in 571 quashed convictions

Key requests to Government

I ask the Minister to acknowledge these errors; for the CCRC to correct the record and reconsider Mr Cleeland's case; for the Law Commission to consider this case directly in their work on referrals based on safety principles; and for the Government to review the CCRC's response to Mr Cleeland's case.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Damian Collins Con Folkestone and Hythe

I am concerned about the Criminal Cases Review Commission's handling of Paul Cleeland's case, which has been ongoing since his conviction in 1972 for murder. Mr Cleeland maintains his innocence and there are multiple issues with the evidence presented during his trial, including lack of forensic evidence linking him to the crime weapon and potential inaccuracies in witness statements. The CCRC's continued reliance on flawed evidence undermines the credibility of its process.

Other contributors (2)
  • Barry Sheerman Lab Ealing Central and Acton

    Barry Sheerman expressed support for the debate on miscarriages of justice, highlighting the work of his commission which evaluates adequacy in forensic science. He invited Damian Collins to join an all-party parliamentary group focusing on miscarriages of justice.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon commended Damian Collins for raising the debate, noting that out of 31,300 applications received by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, only 500 cases have been successful. He urged the Government to encourage more people in the process and improve the confidence in the system.

Government Response

Laura Farris

Discussed the role of the CCRC since its inception in 1997, noting that it has referred 836 cases and resulted in 571 quashed convictions. Mentioned an 18% budget increase since 2021-22 to support increasing demand. Acknowledged scrutiny over recent cases but emphasized the CCRC's independence from government decisions based on parliamentary tests. Highlighted ongoing investigations into Andrew Malkinson's case and raised Mr Cleeland's concerns with the Lord Chancellor for further consideration.

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