{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2019-06-17&hansardHeading=Sexual+Offences", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2019-06-17&hansardHeading=Sexual+Offences", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2019-06-17&_metadata=all&hansardHeading=Sexual+Offences", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&min-date=2019-06-17&hansardHeading=Sexual+Offences", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2019-06-17&hansardHeading=Sexual+Offences", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2019-06-17&hansardHeading=Sexual+Offences", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1671511", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1671511/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Tackling all forms of sexual exploitation remains a top priority for this Government.<\/p>
<\/p>
The acts of buying and selling sex are not in themselves illegal in England and Wales and we have no plans to change the law in this area. However, the Government\u2019s focus is on tackling the harm and exploitation that can be associated with prostitution and sex work.<\/p>
<\/p>
There are already offences in place to tackle illegal activities that can be associated with prostitution, including sections 52 and 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which cover offences of causing or inciting prostitution for gain and controlling prostitution for gain. Sexual exploitation related to human trafficking is an offence under section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 also gives law enforcement agencies and courts the tools, such as Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders and Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders, to take action against offenders and prevent future offending.<\/p>
<\/p>
The new Online Safety Act 2023 includes these crimes as priority offences. Online companies, including adult services websites (ASWs), will have a duty to prevent illegal content relating to sexual exploitation appearing on their sites.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4826", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Laura Farris"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Laura Farris"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "2541"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-23T17:58:26.06Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it an offence to (a) enable and (b) profit from the commercial sexual exploitation of another person.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston upon Hull North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dame Diana Johnson"} ], "uin" : "2540"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1665440", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1665440/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We remain fully committed to protecting children and young people from sexual abuse and continue to keep the law under review.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2019-20 the Government carried out a review of \u201cpositions of trust\u201d offences in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, following which we made the decision to extend the offences to capture those who regularly provide, coaching, teaching, training, supervising or instructing in a sport or a religion.<\/p>
<\/p>
Provisions to extend these offences, in the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, also created a power to allow additional positions of trust to be added via secondary legislation should it prove necessary to do so.<\/p>
<\/p>
These reforms commenced in June 2022 so have only been in force for a little over a year. Before considering further reforms, we want to be assured that the 2022 changes are bedded in and are working effectively. My officials work closely with stakeholders and operational partners to ensure that the existing offences are being used effectively to tackle this behaviour, and that those working with young people understand their responsibilities and act appropriately.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4362", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Argar"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Charnwood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Argar"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-20T13:29:07.76Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the list of subjects defined as positions of trust in Section 22A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/253", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tewkesbury"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Laurence Robertson"} ], "uin" : "202871"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1661203", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1661203/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is committed to tackling sexual violence and wants victims to have the confidence to report these crimes, knowing they will get the support they need and that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.<\/p>
<\/p>
In March 2022 we launched a national communications campaign, Enough, the first phase of which targeted and challenged harmful behaviours, educated young people about healthy relationships and ensured victims can recognise abuse and access support. The first phase of the campaign drove 450,000 clicks to the campaign website.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also improving the experience of victims that report sexual violence, by investing £9.4 million in Operation Soteria to develop a National Operating Model for the investigation of rape, which all police forces in England and Wales are now implementing. We are also investing over £10 million to support police acquire the capabilities they need to analyse victim's mobile devices quickly and at a time and location convenient to them.<\/p>
<\/p>
Furthermore, the Victims and Prisoners Bill, includes measures to help ensure victims know their entitlements, from emotional support to the right to ask for special measures in court, and recognise Independent Sexual Violence Advisers in law. We are also supporting victims through the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Violence Crisis helpline, funded by the Ministry of Justice, which provides victims with ready access to specialist operators who can provide victims with vital information and emotional support. The Home Office has also doubled the value of the Sexual Violence Support Fund to £400k per annum in 2023-5.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4503", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Philp"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Croydon South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Philp"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-16T15:42:19.943Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-09-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage people to report incidences of sexual assault and violence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "200040"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1580600", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1580600/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This information is not held centrally.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4362", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Argar"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Charnwood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Argar"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-01-30T15:21:04.29Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) rape and (b) other sexual assault cases disposed of through voluntary dismissal in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4268", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Reed"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Croydon North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Steve Reed"} ], "uin" : "132412"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506798", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506798/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Individuals who are Released Under Investigation (RUI) cannot have bail conditions set against them. RUI is a non-legislative police process which does not allow police to include conditions as part of a suspect\u2019s release.<\/p>
<\/p>
Before the suspect has been charged, police can use pre-charge bail where it is necessary and proportionate. This may be subject to certain conditions, for example, non-contact with the victim.<\/p>
<\/p>
If charged, the police can apply post-charge bail. Post-charge police bail is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The courts can also impose post-charge bail under the Bail Act 1976, with conditions if appropriate.<\/p>
<\/p>
Decisions on whether to remand a suspect are risk-based and include where there are grounds to believe that the suspect will not attend court, may commit another offence or obstruct the course of justice. Suspects will not be remanded unless the strict circumstances apply.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government has introduced legislation to reform the bail system to reduce the use of RUI and increase the use of bail. This will help to ensure that bail, including conditional bail, is used to adequately protect victims. Guidance will be issued by the College of Policing to accompany these changes.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4507", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jeremy Quin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-23T08:25:00.423Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what conditions a suspect of serious sexual offences released under investigation can be (a) given post charge bail conditions or (b) remanded.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4267", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Champion"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rotherham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sarah Champion"} ], "uin" : "51703"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1504778", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1504778/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is committed to ensuring that victims and survivors of rape and sexual offences have their case treated seriously from the point of disclosure.<\/p>
We recognise that having police officers with the right skills is critical in ensuring cases are managed appropriately and effectively. We are supporting the police to ensure this is the case through:<\/p>
The structuring of police forces is an operational matter for Chief Constables and information on the number of specialist units is not collated centrally.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4507", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jeremy Quin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-08T16:54:51.94Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in (a) England and (b) Wales contain operational rape and serious sexual offences units.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4370", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jess Phillips"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Yardley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jess Phillips"} ], "uin" : "47559"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1503533", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1503533/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence is a key priority for this Government, and we expect cases to be dealt with sensitively and effectively. In June 2021, we published the End-to-End Rape Review Report and Action Plan which outlined a robust programme of work that aims to achieve a significant improvement in the way the criminal justice system responds to rape and sexual offences against adults.<\/p>
As set out in the Rape Review, our ambition is to more than double the volume of adult rape cases reaching court over the Parliament, and we are using the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Delivery Dashboards to monitor progress towards this ambition.<\/p>
There are no set targets for the police on timeliness. The published crime outcomes data shows that for all sexual offences the median days for a charge outcome to be assigned in 21/22 was 261 days, down from 268 days in 20/21. For all rape, the median days for a charge outcome to be assigned in 21/22 was 467 days compared to 465 days in 20/21.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4372", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Amanda Solloway"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derby North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Amanda Solloway"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-06T15:52:13.92Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2022 to Question 37514 on Sexual Offences, whether (a) incentives and (b) penalties exist to encourage police departments to meet the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences target of reaching a charging decision within 30 days of beginning work on a sexual assault case.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4424", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John McNally"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Falkirk"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John McNally"} ], "uin" : "45225"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1489689", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1489689/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence is a key priority for this Government.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> In June 2021, we published the End-to-End Rape Review Report and Action Plan. The action plan outlined a robust programme of work to achieve a significant improvement in the way the criminal justice system responds to rape and sexual offences against adults.<\/p> <\/p> Our stated ambition in the Rape Review is to more than double the volume of adult rape cases reaching court over the Parliament, and we are using the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Delivery Dashboards to monitor progress towards this ambition.<\/p> <\/p> On 16 June, we published our second six-monthly Rape Review Progress Update and third national CJS Delivery Dashboard. There are no set targets for the police on timeliness, but the Dashboard showed that in the year to December 2021 the median days from offence recording to the police charging an offender was 374, which was a reduction of 29 from 403 days in the years to June and September 2021.<\/p> <\/p> The Rape Review Progress Update also outlined progress that has been made on key actions to improve the police\u2019s response to adult rape in the year since the Rape Review, including:<\/p> Continuing to make progress towards the target of recruiting 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023. As of March 2022, the Home Office had supported the recruitment of 13,578 police officers, and in 2022/3 we have allocated £550m to achieve the target of 20,000 officers by March 2023.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4372", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Amanda Solloway"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derby North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Amanda Solloway"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-22T16:20:10.837Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a framework is in place to ensure that the police meet the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences target of reaching a charging decision within 30 days of beginning work on a sexual assault case.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4424", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John McNally"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Falkirk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John McNally"}
], "uin" : "37514"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1459842", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1459842/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Justice has published information on prosecutions, convictions up to December 2020, available in the following tool pivot tool:<\/p>