Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the support to jurors provided by Samaritans between 2022 and 2025.
Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Jury service is an important civic duty, and the Government is committed to ensuring jurors feel supported throughout their service. The Government did not undertake a specific assessment of the support provided to jurors by Samaritans between 2022 and 2025. During this period, jurors experiencing distress were signpost by HMCTS to Samaritans’, alongside support available through their GP.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made the effectiveness of the Juror Appreciation Week initiative in boosting recognition of jurors.
Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government values the contribution of jurors throughout the year.
Since the ‘Juror Appreciation Week’ initiative was launched in 2024, the Government has supported awareness-raising across a range of channels, including social media, blogs and other digital content, which has seen strong public engagement with the materials we have shared.
In 2026, we supported Juror Appreciation Week through communications recognising the contribution of jurors and promoting information about jury service and the support available to jurors. This included a student myth-busting video, a social media poll, a podcast on jury service, juror information content and publication of the evaluation of the Enhanced Support for Jurors pilot.
More widely, the Government remains committed to recognising the important contribution made by jurors and continues to promote awareness of jury service and juror support through its wider communications and operational activity.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they did not support Juror Appreciation Week in 2026.
Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government values the contribution of jurors throughout the year.
Since the ‘Juror Appreciation Week’ initiative was launched in 2024, the Government has supported awareness-raising across a range of channels, including social media, blogs and other digital content, which has seen strong public engagement with the materials we have shared.
In 2026, we supported Juror Appreciation Week through communications recognising the contribution of jurors and promoting information about jury service and the support available to jurors. This included a student myth-busting video, a social media poll, a podcast on jury service, juror information content and publication of the evaluation of the Enhanced Support for Jurors pilot.
More widely, the Government remains committed to recognising the important contribution made by jurors and continues to promote awareness of jury service and juror support through its wider communications and operational activity.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the results of the two-tiered test of enhanced support for jurors in Crown Courts centres that was announced in May 2024.
Answered by Baroness Levitt
Jury service is an important civic duty. Whilst many people find it worthwhile, we recognise that some trials can be challenging.
The “Enhanced Support for Jurors” pilot concluded in March 2025 and is currently being evaluated. The results will help inform longer-term support for jurors, including in cases involving serious violence or sexual offending.
If a juror is left distressed by any aspect of their service, they are encouraged to seek specialist support through their GP or the NHS 111 helpline, which includes a dedicated mental health option.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the psychological and mental health impact on jurors of sitting on serious cases of physical or sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Levitt
Jury service is an important civic duty. Whilst many people find it worthwhile, we recognise that some trials can be challenging.
The “Enhanced Support for Jurors” pilot concluded in March 2025 and is currently being evaluated. The results will help inform longer-term support for jurors, including in cases involving serious violence or sexual offending.
If a juror is left distressed by any aspect of their service, they are encouraged to seek specialist support through their GP or the NHS 111 helpline, which includes a dedicated mental health option.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether it is generally understood by the public that individuals who are found guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility can be sentenced to hospital rather than prison
Answered by Lord Timpson
Guidelines for sentencing for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility are publicly available and published here: Manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility – Sentencing.
The guideline on sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments outlines the criteria for sentencing someone to a hospital order under s.37 or hospital and limitation direction under s45A of the Mental Health Act 1983. These guidelines are also publicly accessible.
All guidelines are subject to wide public consultation, generally over a 12-week period. The Sentencing Council monitors and evaluates all definitive guidelines, as per its statutory duty to do so. The assessment covers the operation and effect of the guideline.
In order to be detained under these sections, the offender must be suffering from a mental disorder of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for the offender to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment, and appropriate treatment is available.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the law on murder and manslaughter, following the Valdo Calocane case.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
The Government announced, on 6 December 2024, that it had invited the Law Commission to undertake a review of the law of homicide, including the full and partial defences to homicide, and the sentencing framework for murder. The Law Commission expects to begin work on this review later this year.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan for the terms of reference for the public inquiry into the care and treatment of Valdo Calocane to include the criminal justice issues raised by the families of the victims.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
The Government is committed to establishing a judge-led inquiry into the issues raised by the attacks in Nottingham. Work is underway to establish the Inquiry and its Terms of Reference, and Ministers will update Parliament on it in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Bellamy on 28 March (HL Deb col 121), what options are being considered to properly support jurors adversely affected by sitting on a jury.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Jury service is one of the most important civic duties that anyone can be asked to undertake and we greatly value the contribution of jurors to the criminal justice system. We are currently looking at what more can be done to support jurors who may find their service distressing. Part of this work is to better understand the issue, including potentially commissioning research, so that we can identify how that need could be most appropriately met. Officials are working with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and will consult as necessary with other stakeholders such as the judiciary on this matter. The Government is not yet in a position to indicate a definite timetable for this work.
In addition to this work, we are drawing up guidance to assist any courts that are looking to offer additional support to a jury panel, to ensure that whatever support is offered is appropriate and as consistent as possible across England and Wales. This guidance should be available by the summer.
Asked by: Baroness Berridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Bellamy on 28 March (HL Deb col 121), which stakeholders and other participants in criminal trials they are consulting on the options to offer better support to those taking part in such criminal trials.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Jury service is one of the most important civic duties that anyone can be asked to undertake and we greatly value the contribution of jurors to the criminal justice system. We are currently looking at what more can be done to support jurors who may find their service distressing. Part of this work is to better understand the issue, including potentially commissioning research, so that we can identify how that need could be most appropriately met. Officials are working with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and will consult as necessary with other stakeholders such as the judiciary on this matter. The Government is not yet in a position to indicate a definite timetable for this work.
In addition to this work, we are drawing up guidance to assist any courts that are looking to offer additional support to a jury panel, to ensure that whatever support is offered is appropriate and as consistent as possible across England and Wales. This guidance should be available by the summer.