Contributions
1,152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHyper-prolific OffendingFirst, in the Crime and Policing Bill this Government have removed the effective immunity from prosecution for thefts relating to values under £200, so we are already taking…22 Apr 2025HANSARDHyper-prolific OffendingThis Government inherited a situation where around 10% of offenders account for over half of all convictions. We also inherited rising levels of theft and shoplifting. In…22 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing CouncilWhat a load of nonsense. I am the Lord Chancellor who is rectifying the situation with the proper distinction between matters of policy and matters of independent judicial…22 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing CouncilWhen judges are acting as judges, they are acting in their independent capacity. All Members of this House should respect judicial independence. My hon. Friend will know that my…22 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing CouncilThe guidelines set a starting point for a sentence—that is usually the point of the guidelines. Judges can sentence outside the guideline range if they believe that is in the…22 Apr 2025HANSARDHyper-prolific OffendingThe solutions we pursue have to be shown to work. In the end, we need solutions that will work, because these people are often locked up for considerable periods of time, and when…22 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing CouncilThe Sentencing Council does important work bringing consistency to judicial decision making, but it was clear in recent weeks that it had moved beyond that role to take in policy…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillI have engaged constructively with the Sentencing Council and will continue to do so, and I am in the process of legislating to prevent this imposition guideline from ever coming…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillI have had constructive conversations with the Sentencing Council, and I have made it very clear that I do not really do personal. I certainly would not do it in relation to the…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillFor me, one of the most moving parts of the parliamentary day is when the day starts with prayers. Those are Christian prayers, and I am of the Muslim faith, but I always find it…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillIt certainly does not undermine the independence of the judiciary. There is a long tradition of campaigners, including my right hon. Friend, who have a lengthy track record of…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillThe right hon. and learned Gentleman is right. That is why we have offered the additional context in the explanatory notes. Personal characteristics and personal circumstances…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. In fact, we fully support section 30 of the Sentencing Act 2020—the sentencing code—which makes it clear that a court must obtain a…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillThe purpose of the pre-sentence reports, used properly, is to provide the court with the full context of the offending behaviour. That enables the court to ensure that when it…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillThey did not differ in any substantial way. All the guidelines, in so far as they concern issues relating to race, religion, culture or belief, are exactly the same as those to…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. When I spoke in this House on 1 April, I set out the Government’s intention to introduce emergency legislation, because I…22 Apr 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the Chair of the Justice Committee for raising an important issue for his own constituents that also has wider significance. I will publish the full terms of reference and…22 Apr 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe right hon. Member will know that the issue at the moment is that transcripts have to be physically transcribed by hand by a human listening back to what was said and done in…22 Apr 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for her comments, for her support and for assiduously representing the needs of her constituents. As I said, the inquiry will be chaired by Her Honour…22 Apr 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have already got off to a good start in the deportation of foreign national offenders from our prisons. The new funding will enable more caseworkers to speed up the removal of…22 Apr 2025