Violence Against Women and Girls: Prosecution Rates
(Bath) (LD)
1. What steps she is taking to help increase prosecution rates
for violence against women and girls.(902697)
(Ogmore) (Lab)
10. What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for
cases relating to violence against women and girls.(902707)
The Attorney General ()
Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for the
Government. I recently visited CPS Thames and Chiltern to hear
specifically about the work it is doing to combat stalking. I
also heard how the domestic abuse joint justice plan will
transform how we investigate this all-too-frequent crime.
Data from the Crown Prosecution Service shows that despite an
increase in the number of referrals from the police for domestic
abuse, both charging rates and prosecutions have decreased in the
last quarter. In Bath, the Southside project, Voices, and
Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support all support those
affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence, but we cannot
rely on charities to do the heavy lifting. Does the Attorney
General agree that if we want the public to have confidence in
the system, increased reporting should lead to increased numbers
of prosecutions?
The Attorney General
Yes. It is always difficult to talk with pleasure about increased
numbers of prosecutions, because all the survivors of those acts
have gone through a horrible event for a prosecution to take
place, but I agree with the hon. Lady that it is generally a good
sign that prosecution numbers are going up. I am pleased to say
that they are going up in her area for adult rape cases. There is
more to do on domestic abuse cases, which is why we are focusing
specifically on the domestic abuse joint justice plan. The work
of the charities in her region, which I should say are funded by
but independent of Government—that is what survivors prefer—will
really help us to ensure that those survivors get justice.
The Attorney General will know that the Online Safety Act 2023
was given Royal Assent at the end of last year and that, in that
Act, there are various bits of legislation to protect women and
girls in relation to cyber-flashing, deepfakes and revenge porn.
Will she set out for the House how many prosecutions have taken
place under that new, important piece of legislation that is
trying to protect more women and girls from those other forms of
violence?
The Attorney General
I am afraid that I do not have to hand specific figures for the
hon. Gentleman's constituency under that Act, but I am happy to
get them for him. We are confident that it will be possible to
bring prosecutions under the Act. These are important and
distressing but relatively new crimes, and it is important that
we continue to work with the police and the CPS to prosecute
novel areas of criminal activity. It is really difficult for
survivors of these crimes to deal with them.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Justice Committee.
Sir (Bromley and Chislehurst)
(Con)
The Attorney General rightly refers to the work done in relation
to domestic violence. The most serious offences of violence
against women and girls are rape and serious sexual offences. As
she will know, there are concerns that once victims have come
forward, there are delays in their cases being heard, largely
because of the difficulty in getting suitably experienced
barristers to prosecute them. Does she accept that one of the
main drivers of that is the fact that legal aid fees were
increased for defence barristers, but prosecution fees have
lagged behind? There is a gap of around £500 in the brief fee
between prosecuting and defending. Does she agree that we must
plug that gap urgently, to get suitable counsel prosecuting as
well as defending those cases?
The Attorney General
The Chair of the Select Committee is tempting me to step on the
firm territory of the Lord Chancellor, as he well knows. He also
knows, because he and I have discussed this many times, that the
Lord Chancellor and I speak several times a week about our
concerns about the shortage of counsel in the criminal sphere in
particular. However, I would say gently to my hon. and learned
Friend that I do not think money is the only reason why it is not
always attractive to prosecute RASSO case after RASSO case. They
are draining cases to be involved in, and they are listed very
tightly at the moment because of the pandemic backlogs, as he
mentioned. That leads to tensions with listings and with the
judiciary, which can make it very difficult to do this area of
work relentlessly. I have nothing but praise for the barristers
who are engaged in it.
Crown Prosecution Service and Police Services: Joint Working
(Cheadle) (Con)
3. What recent steps she has taken to increase joint working
between the Crown Prosecution Service and police services.
(902700)
The Solicitor General ()
Close and collaborative work across the criminal justice system
is key to securing justice for victims, holding offenders to
account and keeping the public safe. The police and the CPS have
invested heavily in new ways of working, including through the
national operating model for rape prosecutions, with the result
that the police and the CPS work more closely together at an
earlier stage in prosecutions.
During a recent visit to Greater Manchester police's divisional
headquarters in Stockport I heard that there can be significant
delays between sending a case to the CPS and receiving a charging
decision back. To solve that, it was suggested that having CPS
staff based inside the station would speed up the process and
improve communication. What consideration has my hon. and learned
Friend given to a CPS presence in police stations, and will he
work with me and Stockport division to facilitate a trial?
The Solicitor General
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this extremely pertinent
point. She is right to emphasise the importance of early
co-operation between the police and the CPS. At a visit last
month to Charing Cross police station I considered precisely that
point. There is a buddy system there, with CPS lawyers working
with police officers, which is improving case file quality. We
are actively exploring how to ensure closer early working with
the CPS and the police, and I will look at Stockport with
her.
(Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
(SNP)
The United Kingdom Government are going above and beyond to
ensure that British arms are readily available in Israel's
arsenal to bomb Gaza. The Attorney General is refusing to give
out the legal advice, based on the long- standing Law Officers'
convention, yet the circumstances for up to 1.6 million people
are now between life and death. What steps is she taking to
ensure that Britain is not complicit in the destruction of a
nation and its people?
The Solicitor General
I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Attorney General keeps
all these matters under close review, and will ensure that any
legal advice is properly obtained and acted upon.
Royal Albert Hall: Governance
Mrs (Washington and Sunderland
West) (Lab)
4. If she will refer the governance of the Royal Albert Hall to
the first-tier tribunal (charity). (902701)
The Attorney General ()
The Royal Albert Hall is one of our most important cultural
institutions. There are long-standing differences between the
trustees of the Hall and the charity commissioners over
governance matters. I really hope that the parties will work
together to resolve their differences without expensive
litigation and I stand absolutely ready to facilitate those
discussions.
Mrs Hodgson
The Attorney General, in her—I must say excellent—recent letter
on the matter, expressed her “disappointment” that the Royal
Albert Hall Bill “is not more ambitious” and
“that the constitution of the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and
Sciences gives rise to a potential conflict between the private
interests of seat-holding trustees and the Corporation's
charitable objects.”
I totally agree. She has said that she will look at this issue
but, unlike her predecessors, will she please also consider, if
she needs to, referring the matter to the charity tribunal, so it
can be settled once and for all? Tickets to attend one of our
country's most famous and treasured venues should not be turning
up on notorious ticketing websites like Viagogo, and those who
are receiving ill-gotten gains should not be running the
charity.
The Attorney General
The hon. Lady takes a very close interest in these matters and
is, I believe, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on
ticket abuse. I really commend her for her work in this important
area. Many of us who are great supporters of the Albert Hall are
concerned by ticket costs. I am hopeful, as I said, that the two
parties can continue to work together. I want to avoid expensive
litigation if that can be done. A previous Attorney General was
asked permission to refer the matter to the first-tier tribunal.
I have not been asked by the Charity Commission to do so. I am
very hopeful that this matter can be resolved amicably and I am
very happy to remain involved if that is helpful.
Women and Children's Safety Online
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
5. What recent steps the Crown Prosecution Service has taken to
help keep women and children safe online. (902702)
The Solicitor General ()
The CPS takes the issue of keeping women and children safe online
extremely seriously. I am pleased to report that the CPS has
delivered the first conviction for cyber-flashing within weeks of
the new offence becoming law. This is an important milestone for
protecting women and girls online, and demonstrates how the
Government have worked to put perpetrators behind bars.
I thank my hon. and learned Friend for that answer. In addition
to the good work he is doing to help prevent online bullying,
trolling and abuse, keeping safe online includes helping to
prevent fraud. Will he detail how the Government, through the
online fraud charter, are ensuring that tech companies help women
and children?
The Solicitor General
My hon. Friend is quite right to draw attention to the online
fraud charter—a world first—which sits under the Online Safety
Act 2023. Twelve of the biggest tech companies are working
together to reduce fraud on their platforms. The signatories are
agreeing to undertake certain measures within six months, such as
blocking, reporting and take-downs, to ensure that the
vulnerable—such as children being exploited as money mules—are
protected online.
Crimes While Protesting: Prosecutions
Dr (Bosworth) (Con)
6. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Crown
Prosecution Service in prosecuting people that have committed
crimes while protesting. (902703)
The Solicitor General ()
Non-threatening peaceful protest is fundamental, but those rights
are not absolute and they must be balanced with the rights and
freedom of others. The CPS works closely with the police to
ensure that those who commit offences during protests are brought
to justice and our streets are kept safe. Indeed, just last month
the CPS successfully prosecuted a protester under the Terrorism
Act 2000 after he wore a Hamas headband to a pro-Palestine
rally.
Dr Evans
The Minister rightly points out that there is a clear balance
between democratic peaceful protest and the tactics used by the
likes of Just Stop Oil to disrupt society. We have seen mass
protests, mostly peaceful, on the London streets, but we did see
damage, such as that to the Ministry of Defence, which is
completely unacceptable. How do the new laws that we have passed
in Parliament aid the prosecution of those who are not interested
in peaceful protest?
The Solicitor General
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this extremely pertinent and
concerning point. The police already have a full suite of powers
under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986—as well as some
relating to criminal damage, the offence to which he referred. To
ensure that they act, the Government have, however, reinforced
those powers under the Public Order Act 2023. The Crown
Prosecution Service is working closely with the police in, for
instance, providing round-the-clock charging advice nationally.
My hon. Friend is right: it is unacceptable that those who are
taking part in legitimate democratic processes commit criminal
damage, and it is also utterly unacceptable that, for example,
Jewish people feel threatened. The Government expect the full
powers available to the police to be used so that offenders can
be prosecuted.
International Humanitarian Law: Israel-Palestine Conflict
(North Tyneside) (Lab)
7. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on
compliance with international humanitarian law in relation to the
Israel-Palestine conflict. (902704)
(Oldham East and
Saddleworth) (Lab)
8. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on
compliance with international humanitarian law in relation to the
Israel-Palestine conflict. (902705)
The Attorney General ()
As all Members know, the Law Officers' convention means that I
cannot disclose outside Government whether or not I have provided
advice, or the specifics of such advice, but it is no secret that
we continue to call for international humanitarian law to be
respected and for civilians to be protected.
It is more than three months since the International Court of
Justice issued its interim ruling on the Gaza conflict and set
out steps that Israel must take in
order to protect civilian life. The Netanyahu Government have, as
yet, failed to comply with that ruling, but our Government have
still not come out publicly and urged them to do so. Will the
Attorney General take the opportunity today to call
on Israel to take the
steps ordered by the Court?
The Attorney General
This Government firmly respect the role and the independence of
the ICJ. Its ruling, or order, called for the immediate release
of the hostages and referred to the need to get more aid into
Gaza, and that is exactly what the Government are also calling
for.
The ICJ ruling also declared that there was a “plausible right”
to be protected from genocide, and following the urgent question
to the Deputy Foreign Secretary on Tuesday I cited United Nations
international law relating to that. When there are concerns about
a potential genocide taking place, those are the circumstances in
which the sale of arms should be withdrawn. Can the Attorney
General tell me, and my constituents—as this is a massive issue
for thousands of people across the country—exactly when the
Government will come out and recognise both international law and
the risks that we take in breaching it?
The Attorney General
This Government believe very firmly in international law. On 9
April, the Foreign Secretary announced that our position on
export licences was unchanged. We publish data on our export
licensing decisions transparently and on a quarterly basis.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Attorney General.
(Islington South and
Finsbury) (Lab)
We have heard questions about the International Court of Justice,
but I want ask some questions about the International Criminal
Court. Its chief prosecutor said last week that
“all attempts to impede, intimidate, or improperly influence”
the Court over its investigations of war crimes in Gaza must
“cease immediately”.
He was forced to issue that demand after a letter signed by 12
United States senators warned the ICC:
“Target Israel and we will
target you.”
That letter threatened sanctions not just against the ICC's
officials, but against its employees, associates and
families.
Will the Attorney General join me in condemning those Republican
senators for their outrageous actions? Will she also join the
chief prosecutor in agreeing that anyone who threatens the ICC
simply for doing its job is undermining the very impartiality and
independence on which its international mandate depends?
The Attorney General
I thought that the ICC's statement was worthy of note, and I am
grateful to the right hon. Lady for bringing it to the House's
attention. In his statement, the independent prosecutor was also
keen to point out that he welcomed active engagement by
Governments and other parties on the work in which he is clearly
engaged around the world to ensure that international
humanitarian law is respected and war crimes are not committed.
He is a British prosecutor, and we in this Government are proud
to work with him; we have been very proud to support him in his
work in Ukraine, for example. There are ongoing investigations of
what is going on in Israel and Gaza by more
than one international court at present, and I think it is
difficult to speculate on specific outcomes.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
The Attorney General will be aware of the Government's grounds of
defence in the ongoing case of Al-Haq v. the Secretary of State
for Business and Trade, in which the FCDO lawyers admitted that
the
“inability to come to a clear assessment on Israel's record of
compliance”
with international humanitarian law “poses significant policy
risks”. What is the Attorney General's assessment of that
submission? Given the FCDO's concerns about Israel's compliance
with IHL, what has she said to her Cabinet colleagues who are
worried that the issuing of arms export licences could make the
UK Government complicit in breaches of international humanitarian
law and the arms trade treaty?
The Attorney General
As the hon. Gentleman knows, I cannot give my specific legal
advice. I cannot share that with the House—it is for the
Government alone—but I can say that the Foreign Secretary has
reviewed the most recent advice from the IHL cell. That has
informed his decision that there is not a clear risk that the
items exported from the UK might be used to commit or facilitate
a serious violation of IHL. It leaves our position on export
licences unchanged, but that position is kept under review.
Fraud and Economic Crime
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
9. What steps she is taking to prosecute perpetrators of fraud
and economic crime. (902706)
The Solicitor General ()
Last year, the Government published a new fraud strategy to
combat fraud and economic crime, and the Corporate Transparency
Act 2023 received Royal Assent. Last month, the Serious Fraud
Office published its strategy for the next five years, which is
focused on tech, intelligence gathering and enforcement. In fact,
I am pleased to report to the House that on Friday the SFO
secured the conviction of former investment manager David Kennedy
for his part in a £100 million investment fraud, in which
hundreds of people lost their savings.
Fraud is prevalent. In fact, it accounts for a third of all
crimes committed in this country, and increasingly we are seeing
online scams. Vulnerable people often get caught up in phishing
schemes. Will the Government consider setting up an online crimes
agency to clamp down specifically on online crimes, which will
become more prevalent with the use of artificial
intelligence?
The Solicitor General
The hon. Member is absolutely right. This is a particularly
pernicious crime. It often targets the vulnerable and, sadly, in
an interconnected and digital world, it is likely to increase. We
will look very closely at all such matters. A number of joint
strategies are shared between agencies in any event, but I am
certainly very happy to look at her suggestion.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
There were 36 failed personal protective equipment contracts
during the pandemic, costing over £1 billion, but only one
company, PPE Medpro, has been named. If the Government are
serious about tackling fraud, why are they refusing to disclose
the details of the other companies? How exactly were those
contracts awarded, and can the Solicitor General update the House
on how many prosecutions are pending?
The Solicitor General
The hon. Member quite rightly raises a matter of particular
concern to him, and indeed to the whole House. His Majesty's
Revenue and Customs remains committed to covid-19 scheme
compliance, and will continue to prioritise the most serious
cases of abuse. Specifically on prevention and recoveries, up to
30 September 2023, HMRC had prevented the payment, or recovered
the overpayment, of over £1.6 billion-worth of grants, made up of
£430 million that was prevented from being paid out and over £1.2
billion that was recovered from overpayments. By 30 September
2023, HMRC had opened 51 criminal investigations into suspected
fraud within the schemes, and made a total of 80 arrests.
