Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) prosecuting cases and (b) providing (i) information, (ii) assistance and (iii) support to victims.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) rolled out a new Crown Court operating model last year. This is a more effective and efficient approach to justice as it means the CPS serve more material on the defence at a much earlier stage so they can be more robust with case management and encourage earlier guilty pleas.
The CPS is transforming the service it provides to victims through its Victim Transformation Programme. The Programme is delivering an improved Universal Service offer for all victims of crime, which will build victims’ understanding of the role of the CPS, ensure that victims understand their rights, and signpost victims to relevant support.
The Victim Transformation Programme also includes an Enhanced Service offer for adult victims of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). The Enhanced Service will include the offer of a meeting with a member of the prosecution team once a victim has been notified their case is proceeding to trial. This will give victims the opportunity to discuss what happens next and ask questions about the process. The Enhanced Offer will also include a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer in all CPS RASSO Units to help improve the quality of engagement with adult RASSO victims.
The Victim Transformation Programme builds on actions the CPS has already taken to improve the quality of the communications and the service it provides to victims. For example, the CPS has published an online guide for all victims of crime, which explains what they can expect when their case reaches the CPS and what their entitlements are as victims. This has had nearly 110,000 views in total since its launch in September 2022. It follows an earlier guide the CPS produced for victims of rape and serious sexual offences, which has had over 320,000 views since November 2021.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the CPS in ensuring access to justice for victims of crime.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Speedy access to justice is in the interest of victims, defendants, witnesses, and society.
The Ministry of Justice is co-ordinating cross-government action to support the Crown Courts and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is engaging with key delivery partners to support longer term improvements. The national Criminal Justice Board, re-instated last year by the Lord Chancellor, is a welcomed opportunity to identify and tackle the challenges faced by the criminal justice system.
The CPS rolled out a new Crown Court operating model last year. This is a more effective and efficient approach to justice as it means the CPS serve more material on the defence at a much earlier stage so they can be more robust with case management and encourage earlier guilty pleas.
Further, the CPS has an important role in ensuring that victims are informed and supported. The CPS is transforming the service it provides to victims through its Victim Transformation Programme. The Programme is delivering an improved Universal Service offer for all victims of crime, which will build victims’ understanding of the CPS’ role, ensure that victims understand their rights, and signpost victims to relevant support.
The Victim Transformation Programme also includes an Enhanced Service offer for victims with the greatest needs. The first cohort of victims to receive the Enhanced Service offer will be adult victims of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). The Enhanced Service will include the offer of a meeting with a member of the prosecution team once a victim has been notified their case is proceeding to trial. This will give victims the opportunity to discuss what happens next and ask questions about the process. The Enhanced Offer will also include a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer in all CPS RASSO Units to help improve the quality of engagement with adult RASSO victims.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what estimate she has made of the number of CPS prosecutions that have been classified as no longer in the public interest as a result of delays in criminal trials beginning in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) case outcome records compiled in the Case Management System include an allocation of a principal reason for finalised prosecutions not resulting in a conviction (non-conviction outcomes), including the numbers which failed for public interest reasons.
The CPS does not have a specific reason accounting for delays in criminal trials. However, the category ‘Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial’ may be allocated. This can apply where there has been a delay since the commission of the offence, or since the defendant was charged, leading either to the case being dropped by the CPS, or stopped by the court on the grounds of abuse of process. It is not possible to further disaggregate these reasons.
The table below shows the number of defendants allocated this reason in each of the last five years, and the six months April to September 2020
2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | April - Sept 2020 | |
Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial | 5,706 | 4,711 | 4,011 | 4,194 | 4,417 | 6,107 |
% Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 4.3% |
Total Non-Conviction Outcomes | 107,579 | 94,692 | 84,834 | 80,474 | 70,816 | 21,857 |
% Non-Conviction Outcomes | 16.9% | 16.1% | 15.9% | 16.3% | 15.7% | 15.4% |
Total Completed Prosecution Outcomes | 637,778 | 588,021 | 533,161 | 494,811 | 451,046 | 141,885 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System |
Between April and September 2020, the volume of completed prosecution outcomes reduced due to court closures and social distancing. However, the volume of cases dropped by the CPS are not as reliant on court hearings and were less impacted.
In response to COVID-19 the CPS introduced an Interim Case Review Guidance on the Application of the Public Interest, as part of the COVID-19 crisis response. The guidance is to be applied for charging decisions, including decisions on whether to continue or discontinue a case that has already been charged. The guidance advises that when considering the question of whether a prosecution is a proportionate response, prosecutors should do so in the context of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the potential delay to criminal proceedings. Application of the principles set out in this guidance may have contributed to an increase in the proportion of cases dropped under the category of ‘Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial’.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of the vehicles used by her Department on Government business are electric vehicles.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Department for Transport is responsible for all government vehicles managed by the Government Car Service.
The Attorney General’s Office, Government Legal Department, Serious Fraud Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate have no other vehicles to report.
The Crown Prosecution Service currently lease 4 vehicles, none are currently electric vehicles.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether it it Government policy to mantain the level of real-term funding for the CPS in the next three years.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The CPS, as with all government departments, has seen a reduction in funding since 2010. Whilst it has been a challenge, it is very important to recognise that the CPS has managed to maintain its performance. It is testament to the professionalism and commitment of the staff that has enabled this, reforming all aspects of how the organisation is managed to find efficiencies wherever possible. The CPS is now amongst the most digital prosecution services in the world.
The CPS has a budget to enable its resourcing; the Law Officers will continue to work with them and HMT to ensure that this is the case and that their needs are reflected in any future Spending Review.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to tackle the rise in knife crime.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Government Departments are working quickly to tackle knife crime and the CPS continues to prosecute knife crime robustly. Charges for offensive weapons and possession of a bladed article increased to 27,525 in 2017/18, compared with 25,993 in 2016/17.
I attended the Serious Youth Violence Summit hosted by the Prime Minister in April to discuss this serious issue. Following the Summit, cross-government work will now be overseen and driven forward by the new Serious Violence Strategy Implementation Taskforce chaired by the Prime Minister. The Attorney General will be a member of this Taskforce, and both he and I regularly engage with discussions about effectively tackling knife crime.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to address failures relating to disclosure of evidence through the encouragement of early engagement between prosecution and defence in criminal cases.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General’s Review of the efficiency and effectiveness of disclosure in the criminal justice system, published in November 2018, highlights the need for early engagement. The Review includes recommendations on pre-charge engagement and proportionate frontloading to ensure there is a better balance between streamlining work and performing disclosure obligations early. This National Disclosure Improvement Plan, which contains commitments made by the CPS, NPCC and College of Policing, also highlights the importance of engagement between the prosecution and the defence.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the effective prosecution of criminals.
Answered by Geoffrey Cox
The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed the outline terms of a comprehensive future security relationship including law enforcement, criminal justice, and judicial cooperation.
I have regular meetings and briefings with the Director of Public Prosecutions and senior officials of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). A significant amount of planning for EU Exit has taken place and the CPS is making preparations for both for the implementation period or for an exit without a deal.