The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is not an investigative agency and will only bring cases to court that have been referred by the police or another Law Enforcement Agency.<\/p>
The Financial Conduct Authority has regulatory responsibility for payday lenders along with other financial institutions and may either investigate criminal conduct themselves or refer it to another agency or force, as appropriate.<\/p>
There has been recent publicity about the conduct of one particular payday lender, Wonga. It was widely reported that the Financial Conduct Authority are to refer a file to the police for consideration of whether a criminal investigation is appropriate. This followed the announcement that Wonga would pay £2.6 million in compensation, after sending letters from non-existent law firms to customers in arrears.<\/p>
The CPS Deputy Head of the Specialist Fraud Division has met with the City of London Police to discuss this case. City of London Police are the national police lead in substantial fraud investigations. At this stage, the police have still to consider whether a criminal investigation is required and no advice has been sought from the CPS. Any referral to the CPS will be made to the Specialist Fraud Division.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Heald"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-10T11:20:43.0892914Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit: Interest Rates"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to prosecute payday money lenders under the Fraud Act 2006.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Flynn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newport West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Flynn"} ], "uin" : "203917"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65625", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65625/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Searches of records at the Attorney General's Office have been conducted to try and determine what, if any, correspondence or files were passed to this Office in relation to these issues. We have so far found no trace of any material.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/16", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Dominic Grieve"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beaconsfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Dominic Grieve"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "204036"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-08T14:14:15.8944381Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Abuse"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between his Department and (a) the Home Office and (b) Lord Brittan of Spennithorne in relation to child abuse in (a) 1984 and (b) 1985; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tom Watson"} ], "uin" : "203925"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65626", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65626/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The table below shows the proportion of prosecuted defendants, flagged as rape, sexual offences excluding rape and domestic violence, recorded in the age bands 18 \u2013 24 and 14 \u2013 17 in each of the last seven years:<\/p>
<\/p><\/td> | (a) <\/strong>Rape<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (b) <\/strong>Sexual Offences<\/strong><\/p> exc Rape<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (c) <\/strong>Domestic<\/strong><\/p> Violence<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> (i) 14 - 17<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (ii) 18 - 24<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (i) 14 - 17<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (ii) 18 - 24<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (i) 14 - 17<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (ii) 18 - 24<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2007 - 2008<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 10.1%<\/p><\/td> 21.5%<\/p><\/td> 7.5%<\/p><\/td> 16.3%<\/p><\/td> 4.0%<\/p><\/td> 24.1%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2008 - 2009<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 9.4%<\/p><\/td> 22.5%<\/p><\/td> 6.1%<\/p><\/td> 16.3%<\/p><\/td> 4.0%<\/p><\/td> 25.5%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2009 - 2010<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 9.5%<\/p><\/td> 22.5%<\/p><\/td> 6.0%<\/p><\/td> 17.0%<\/p><\/td> 4.0%<\/p><\/td> 26.0%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010 - 2011<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 7.6%<\/p><\/td> 21.9%<\/p><\/td> 5.5%<\/p><\/td> 16.9%<\/p><\/td> 3.8%<\/p><\/td> 25.9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011 - 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 8.1%<\/p><\/td> 21.3%<\/p><\/td> 4.7%<\/p><\/td> 16.6%<\/p><\/td> 3.3%<\/p><\/td> 25.8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012 - 2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 7.4%<\/p><\/td> 22.6%<\/p><\/td> 4.5%<\/p><\/td> 16.9%<\/p><\/td> 3.0%<\/p><\/td> 25.4%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013 - 2014<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 6.8%<\/p><\/td> 21.4%<\/p><\/td> 4.3%<\/p><\/td> 16.8%<\/p><\/td> 2.7%<\/p><\/td> 23.5%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Data Source: CPS Management Information System<\/p> The CPS did not separately collect data pertaining to the ages defendants prior to April 2007.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Heald"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-10T11:18:26.6973837Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Young Offenders"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of all defendants of charges of (a) rape, (b) sexual offences other than rape and (c) domestic violence have been aged (i) 18 to 24 and (ii) 14 to 17 in each of the last 10 financial years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"}
], "uin" : "203934"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65627", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65627/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The table below shows the proportion of unsuccessful prosecutions in rape cases due to victim issues in each of the last seven years.<\/p> The recording of the reasons for unsuccessful outcomes was changed in April 2013 leading to enhanced recording of victim issues. It is hoped that this may more accurately reflect the rape victim issues the CPS is addressing through the National Rape Action Plan published in June 2014. The Plan includes a specific action to conduct research into the reasons behind victim withdrawals to help identify steps to encourage victims to engage with the court process.<\/p> Previously victim reasons may have been recorded as \u2018essential legal element missing' or \u2018unreliable witnesses'. Following a change to clarify the definitions in 2013-14, the CPS has seen a fall in these reasons (from 4% to 1.5% and 8.1% to 1.3% respectively). In parallel there has been a rise in recording of unsuccessful outcomes due to victim issues, with the figure rising from 12.5% to 18% of all unsuccessful outcomes, of which 10.8% was due to victim retraction.<\/p> <\/p><\/td> Rape Victim Issues<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2007-2008<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 18.1%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2008-2009<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 17.5%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2009-2010<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 16.5%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010-2011<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 13.9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011-2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 11.8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012-2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 12.5%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013-2014<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 18.0%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Data Source: CPS Management Information System<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Heald"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-10T11:15:10.8321222Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rape: Convictions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of all unsuccessful outcomes in rape cases have been because of victim issues in each of the last seven financial years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"}
], "uin" : "203935"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65628", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65628/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The table below shows the proportion of unsuccessful prosecutions due to victim issues in each of the last seven years. The data for 2013-14 is not directly comparable with previous years.<\/p> Victim reasons or issues are defined as non-attendance, retraction or the evidence of the victim does not support the case or come up to proof.<\/p> The CPS is continually striving to improve the quality of data used in both internal and external reports. The recording of the reasons for unsuccessful outcomes was changed in April 2013 leading to enhanced recording of victim issues. It is hoped that this may more accurately reflect the proportion of unsuccessful cases due to victim issues.<\/p> Previously victim reasons may have been recorded as \u2018essential legal element missing' or \u2018unreliable witnesses'. Following a change to clarify the definitions in 2013-14, The CPS has seen a fall in these reasons (from 13.7% to 4.0% and 2.2% to 1.4% respectively). In parallel there has been a rise in recording, of unsuccessful outcomes due to victim issues, with the figure rising from 15.8% to 18.8% of all unsuccessful outcomes, of which 8.1% was due to victim retraction.<\/p> <\/p> Victim Issues/Reasons<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2007-2008<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 13.6%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2008-2009<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 13.3%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2009-2010<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 14.4%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010-2011<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 15.4%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011-2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 15.7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012-2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 15.8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013-2014<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 18.8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Data Source: CPS Management Information System<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Heald"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-10T11:12:19.7095084Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prosecutions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of unsuccessful Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions have been because of victim issues in each of the last seven financial years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"}
], "uin" : "203936"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65629", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65629/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Searches of records at the Attorney General's Office have been conducted to try and determine what, if any, correspondence or files were passed to this Office in relation to these issues. We have so far found no trace of any material.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/16", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Dominic Grieve"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beaconsfield"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Dominic Grieve"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "203925"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-08T14:14:15.9622278Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, if he will place in the Library copies of papers from Lord Brittan of Spennithorne in relation to child abuse in 1983 and 1984 and which were referred to his Department by the Home Office; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tom Watson"}
], "uin" : "204036"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65630", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65630/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) are supervised by licensed insolvency practitioners, who are required to notify the Insolvency Service of the registration of new IVAs, the name, date of birth and address of the individual, and the date of completion or termination of the IVA. They are not required to provide information on the amount of debt, so it is not possible to publish such information.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-09T16:09:41.5255965Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Individual Voluntary Arrangements"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the value of publishing the average total debt of individuals subject to individual voluntary arrangements.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4088", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stella Creasy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Walthamstow"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stella Creasy"}
], "uin" : "204045"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65631", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65631/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market. The transfer of regulatory responsibility for consumer credit from the Office of Fair Trading<\/a> (OFT<\/a>) to the Financial Conduct Authority<\/a> (FCA<\/a>) took effect in April. The FCA has stronger powers and is far better equipped to protect consumers than the OFT.<\/p> <\/p> The Government has ensured that the FCA has inherited the OFT's powers (both criminal and regulatory) in relation to misconduct which occurred before 1 April 2014, as well as considerably strengthening the FCA's powers in relation to misconduct which occurs under the new regulatory regime.<\/p> <\/p> |