MP, the
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, ahead of the second
reading of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on
Monday and Tuesday, said:
"The tragic death of Sarah Everard has instigated a national
demand for action to tackle violence against women.
“This is no time to be rushing through poorly thought-out
measures to impose disproportionate controls on free expression
and the right to protest.
“Now is the time to unite the country and put in place on long
overdue protections for women against unacceptable violence,
including action against domestic homicides, rape and street
harassment. And we must tackle the misogynistic attitudes that
underpin the abuse women face.
“Instead, the Conservatives have brought forward a Bill that is
seeking to divide the country. It is a mess, which could lead to
harsher penalties for damaging a statue than for attacking a
woman.
"Labour will be voting against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and
Courts Bill on this basis. We are calling on the Government to
drop its poorly thought-out proposals and instead work with
Labour to legislate to tackle violence against women which is
forcing so many across the country to live in fear. As well as to
deliver the important areas that are long promised, like tougher
sentences for attacks on frontline workers and increased
sentences for terrorists.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
· On Tuesday Labour will be voting against the
government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
· Labour supports several measures contained
within the bill, including proposals on dangerous driving,
increased sentences for terrorists and other dangerous offenders,
a police covenant, reform to criminal records and closing the
loophole to criminalise sexual abuse by people in positions of
trust.
· Labour is calling for the government to work
cross-party to introduce a package of measures to tackle violence
against women, including:
o Increasing minimum sentences for rapists and
stalkers
o Creating a new street harassment law.
o Introducing a Whole Life Tariff for anyone
found guilty of a stranger abductor murder.
o Commissioning an independent Review to look
into increasing sentences for domestic murder, as well as
providing a Statutory Defence for Domestic Abuse
Survivors.
o A strategy to tackle the misogynistic
attitudes that underpin the abuse women face.
o Legislating to make misogyny a hate
crime.
