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1171233

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Cybercrime: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent progress the CPS has made on tackling online crime.
	tabling member constituency	West Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Harriett Baldwin
	uin	900231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The CPS is committed to robustly prosecuting online crime cases, including offline offences with online elements.</p><p> </p><p>In December, the CPS successfully prosecuted three men who, via fake accounts on an online dating platform, met victims to inflict horrendous violent and homophobic abuse. The defendants received significant custodial sentences of between 15 and 17 years.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis grouped question UIN 900232 question first answered 16/01/2020 16:03:31 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin

1171234

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Cybercrime: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent progress the CPS has made on tackling online crime.
	tabling member constituency	West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
	tabling member printed	Andrew Bowie
	uin	900232
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The CPS is committed to robustly prosecuting online crime cases, including offline offences with online elements.</p><p> </p><p>In December, the CPS successfully prosecuted three men who, via fake accounts on an online dating platform, met victims to inflict horrendous violent and homophobic abuse. The defendants received significant custodial sentences of between 15 and 17 years.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis grouped question UIN 900231 question first answered 16/01/2020 16:03:31 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie

1170855

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sentencing: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will extend the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to include additional offences.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	900229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme is an important avenue for victims, family members and the public to ensure justice is delivered in the most serious cases.</p><p> </p><p>This is why the Government has extended the scheme to cover further child sexual abuse offences, as well as some domestic abuse offences, including controlling and coercive behavior.</p><p> </p><p>The remit of the scheme remains under constant review. We work closely with stakeholders to ensure it appropriately reflects the needs of victims, family members and the public.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 15:53:18 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1170428

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Convictions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to improve conviction rates for rape and sexual offences.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2667
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>Rape is a devastating offence that can have a significant and profound impact on victims, and the CPS is committed to bringing perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice. The CPS welcomes and accepts all recommendations made in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s ‘Rape Inspection’ report, published in December 2019, and joint work with the police is already underway to make improvements. This work covers a range of areas, including case progression, digital capability and disclosure, expertise, supporting victims, and stakeholder engagement.</p><p> </p><p>The ongoing cross-Government review into this complex area will offer comprehensive findings across the whole criminal justice system, and I look forward to its completion.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 15:51:01 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1170429

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to increase the number of reported rape and sexual offences that are brought to trial.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2668
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The reduction in suspects charged in rape and serious sexual offence cases is a cause of concern. Both Government and the CPS are committed to exploring what improvements can be made to the handling of these horrific cases and making progress in this area.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS welcomes and has accepted all recommendations made in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s ‘Rape Inspection’ report, published in December 2019, and a joint action plan with the police is already underway to make improvements. The ongoing cross-Government review into this complex area will also offer comprehensive findings across the whole criminal justice system, and I look forward to its completion. The CPS will address any issues highlighted by the review openly and honestly.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 15:49:23 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1170430

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Rape: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of cases of suspected rape were given No Further Action as a result of insufficient evidence to proceed in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2669
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of suspects, flagged as rape suspects, referred to prosecutors for a pre-charge decision and the number of decisions not to prosecute suspects following the charging decision.</p><p>The table below shows the volume and percentage of legal decisions not to prosecute for evidential reasons in each year from 2016/17 to 2018/19.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p>2016-2017</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>2017-2018</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>2018-2019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Volume</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Volume</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Volume</p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Legal Decision: No Further Action: Evidential</p></td><td><p>2061</p></td><td><p>31.2%</p></td><td><p>1786</p></td><td><p>29.7</p></td><td><p>1816</p></td><td><p>35.5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Data Source: Case Management Information System</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 16:33:08 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1170431

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what the average number of days taken from a report of rape to a decision to charge was in each year since 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>Records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) provide data showing the average number of days from receipt of the pre-charge case from the police to the decision to charge. The CPS does not have a record of the number of days from the date a crime was reported to the police to the date the police refer the case to CPS for a charging decision.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the average number of days from the date a case is received from the police to the date the decision to charge was taken for cases flagged as rape in each year from 2015/16 to 2018/19.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2015 – 2016</p></td><td><p>2016 – 2017</p></td><td><p>2017 – 2018</p></td><td><p>2018 - 2019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average police and CPS time to charge</p></td><td><p>52.70</p></td><td><p>67.28</p></td><td><p>77.98</p></td><td><p>107.68</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>In cases where a file is submitted to the CPS for early investigative advice or where there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge at the first referral, the prosecutor will advise the police officer on the further evidence to be gathered. Once this further evidence has been gathered the officer will return the case to the CPS in order for a charging decision to be made. With the increase in use of early investigative advice, the CPS is more often involved at an earlier stage in proceedings, which has an effect on the average number of consultations and overall timeliness.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 17:24:15 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1169935

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Dangerous Driving: Victim Support Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will commission an inquiry into the adequacy of support services for families of victims of dangerous driving during prosecutions for that offence.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	1886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>Supporting victims and witnesses throughout the criminal justice system is a key priority for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In cases where death has been caused by dangerous driving the CPS offers an enhanced service to bereaved families, meeting with them at crucial stages of the criminal justice process to explain the anticipated progress of the case and what is to be expected at each court hearing. The CPS commitment to bereaved families is incorporated in the Victims’ Code.</p><p>Where a victim or a bereaved family, in a dangerous driving case, is not satisfied with a decision by the CPS not to charge they can seek a review under the CPS Victims Right to Review Scheme. This scheme allows for an independent review of such decisions, which can confirm or overturn them. Bereaved families will be offered a meeting at the end of the review process to discuss the outcome.</p><p>The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) outlines the services victims are entitled to receive, including updates on the progress of their case during an investigation or prosecution. The Government will be consulting shortly on changes to the Victims’ Code, in line with the commitment in its cross-government Victims Strategy.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 16:38:15 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1169772

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Katelyn Dawson
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will undertake a review of the decision by the CPS not to prosecute the driver responsible for the death of 15-year-old school girl Katelyn Dawson.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	1686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>This is indeed a tragic case and I offer my sincere condolences to Katelyn Dawson’s family and friends. This case has been reviewed multiple times, culminating in an independent review by senior external Counsel which found that the case should not be prosecuted.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS determined not to bring proceedings against the driver of the vehicle as he had passed out at the wheel due to an unforeseeable medical condition. Under the Victim’s Right to Review (VRR), Katelyn’s family asked the CPS to reconsider the decision. The Chief Crown Prosecutor personally reviewed the original decision, as the first stage of the VRR process. The Chief Crown Prosecutor upheld the original decision. The Appeals and Review Unit then reviewed the case. A further independent review was then carried out by a Specialist Prosecutor. Senior Counsel external to the CPS was also instructed due to the highly sensitive nature of the case and the unusual circumstances. This second entirely independent review also concluded that the case should not be prosecuted.</p><p> </p><p>A clear and independent process is already in place to ensure victims’ rights are supported and protected and was fully operative in this case. It would therefore not be right for me to interfere with that independent process.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 14/01/2020 15:52:14 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1168492

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	David Duckenfield
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the (a) first, (b) second and (c) third prosecution against Mr David Duckenfield on manslaughter in relation to the Hillsborough tragedy; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
	uin	31
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>This was a complex and harrowing case. Every effort was made to build a robust case for prosecution, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the case was handled by a team of experienced specialist prosecutors.</p><p> </p><p>As it involved the prosecution of more than one defendant, it is not possible to state definitively the total costs in relation to the prosecution of David Duckenfield alone. In June 2017, David Duckenfield, the police commander in charge of safety during the Hillsborough stadium disaster, was charged with gross negligence manslaughter. At trial in April 2019, the jury was unable to reach a verdict against David Duckenfield, while a second defendant, Graham Mackrell, was convicted of a health and safety offence. In November 2019, after a retrial at Preston Crown Court, the jury found David Duckenfield not guilty.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS estimates the cost of legal counsel fees and other prosecution costs for the prosecution of both David Duckenfield and Graham Mackrell to be approximately £1.97 million. CPS records do not capture the cost of the time spent by internal CPS staff on this case.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS cannot comment on costs incurred by the police, HM Courts and Tribunals, or any other partners in this case. Nor can the CPS comment on the private prosecution referred to in the question, which was brought against David Duckenfield by the Hillsborough Family Support Group in 2000.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 07/01/2020 13:09:39 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope