Contributions
1,092 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOffences Against Emergency Workers: ProsecutionsThe CPS takes offences against emergency service personnel extremely seriously. Between November 2018 and November 2019, the first year of the offence coming into effect, almost…13 Feb 2020HANSARDOffences Against Emergency Workers: ProsecutionsMy hon. Friend is right to raise this point. I warn anyone who engages in any type of offence against an emergency service worker that the law will deal with them harshly; the…13 Feb 2020HANSARDOffences Against Emergency Workers: ProsecutionsSentencing is a matter for the courts, but I agree with my hon. Friend in practice. A review sample revealed that nine in 10 assaults were against police officers. Almost all of…13 Feb 2020HANSARDLeaving the EU: Human Rights and the Rule of LawThe United Kingdom has a long tradition of ensuring that rights and liberties are protected domestically, fulfilling its international human rights obligations and upholding the…13 Feb 2020HANSARDLeaving the EU: Human Rights and the Rule of LawThe UK is committed to human rights. The fact is that our EU exit does not change that; the UK will continue to champion human rights, at home and abroad—it is part of who we are…13 Feb 2020HANSARDAntisemitic Hate Crime: ProsecutionsThe proper disclosure of unused material is vital if there is to be a fair trial, and we will continue to focus on these issues, including on the issue of better meeting the…13 Feb 2020HANSARDCounty Lines Criminal ActivityThe county lines model of drug distribution blights communities and fuels serious violence. The CPS provides early advice to law enforcement to build strong cases against county…13 Feb 2020HANSARDPublic Understanding of the LawI chair the public legal education committee, and I regularly engage with stakeholders and other Government Departments on public legal education to explore how we can increase…13 Feb 2020HANSARDDomestic Violence: ProsecutionsThese decisions are always made according to public interest and not to budgetary pressures. As I have mentioned before, the Treasury has already supplied £85 million more to the…13 Feb 2020HANSARDAntisemitic Hate Crime: ProsecutionsThe issue of antisemitism, which my hon. Friend rightly raises, is one of very considerable concern. Just last week, I visited the Community Security Trust in north London; the…13 Feb 2020HANSARDAttorney GeneralThere is considerable evidence that people are particularly concerned about hate crime, and I do not think they are being put off making complaints to the police about that. We…20 Jan 2020HANSARDAttorney GeneralThere is considerable evidence that people are particularly concerned about hate crime, and I do not think they are being put off making complaints to the police about that. We…20 Jan 2020HANSARDUnduly Lenient Sentence Scheme: ExtensionI always welcome communication from the hon. Gentleman and, in fact, from any Member. The issue of manifestly excessive sentences is one for the defence in each case, and there…16 Jan 2020HANSARDUnduly Lenient Sentence Scheme: ExtensionThe number of sentences considered by the Law Officers—the Attorney General and me—has trebled since 2010. There were approximately 1,000 referrals last year, of which 86 cases…16 Jan 2020HANSARDUnduly Lenient Sentence Scheme: ExtensionMy hon. Friend is quite right. It has always been recognised in our criminal justice system that punishment includes not only deterrence but rehabilitation. That is something we…16 Jan 2020HANSARDUnduly Lenient Sentence Scheme: ExtensionThe ULS scheme is an important avenue for victims, family members and the public to ensure that justice is delivered in the most serious cases, which is why the Government have…16 Jan 2020HANSARDHate Crimes: Prosecution RateThe hon. Gentleman is right to focus on this issue. The issue of Islamophobia is of particular concern, as are all forms of hate crime. We see examples of cases in this area being…16 Jan 2020HANSARDHate Crimes: Prosecution RateThere is considerable evidence that people are particularly concerned about hate crime, and I do not think they are being put off making complaints to the police about that. We…16 Jan 2020HANSARDHate Crimes: Prosecution RateThe proportion of hate crime convictions with an announced and recorded sentence uplift has increased from just 12.1% in 2014 to 73.6% now. My hon. Friend is right about online…16 Jan 2020HANSARDDomestic Violence: Prosecution of CasesThat is a very good point, and my hon. Friend has considerable experience of prosecutions and the court system. The reality is that we expect those who are responsible for…16 Jan 2020