Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether those working in hospitality venues that sell restricted products such as alcohol, cigarettes and solvents will receive equal protection under the new offence of assaulting a retail worker under the Crime and Policing Bill.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a new specific standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to help tackle the epidemic of shop theft and violence towards shop workers that we have seen in recent years and protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.
This definition of a retail worker captures someone working in or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier of the retail premises.
Our definition is intentionally narrow and does not include hospitality staff, given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker and impacted during their job. Any ambiguity in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, will likely lead the courts to take the case forward as common assault meaning specific recording attributed to a retail worker would not occur.
Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
Public facing workers, including those in the transport and hospitality sectors, are also covered under legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which covers serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
We introduced a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures are currently in place to address abuse and theft against (1) retail, (2) hospitality, and (3) leisure businesses.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a new specific standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to help tackle the epidemic of shop theft and violence towards shop workers that we have seen in recent years and protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.
This definition of a retail worker captures someone working in or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier of the retail premises.
Our definition is intentionally narrow and does not include hospitality staff, given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker and impacted during their job. Any ambiguity in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, will likely lead the courts to take the case forward as common assault meaning specific recording attributed to a retail worker would not occur.
Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
Public facing workers, including those in the transport and hospitality sectors, are also covered under legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which covers serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
We introduced a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the definition of 'retail premises' in clause 37(2) of the Crime and Policing Bill extends to hospitality premises that also undertake retail activities.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a new specific standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to help tackle the epidemic of shop theft and violence towards shop workers that we have seen in recent years and protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.
This definition of a retail worker captures someone working in or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier of the retail premises.
Our definition is intentionally narrow and does not include hospitality staff, given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker and impacted during their job. Any ambiguity in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, will likely lead the courts to take the case forward as common assault meaning specific recording attributed to a retail worker would not occur.
Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
Public facing workers, including those in the transport and hospitality sectors, are also covered under legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which covers serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
We introduced a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Crime and Policing Bill will protect workers in fast food and takeaway restaurants in the same way as those working in the retail sector.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a new specific standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to help tackle the epidemic of shop theft and violence towards shop workers that we have seen in recent years and protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.
This definition of a retail worker captures someone working in or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier of the retail premises.
Our definition is intentionally narrow and does not include hospitality staff, given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker and impacted during their job. Any ambiguity in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, will likely lead the courts to take the case forward as common assault meaning specific recording attributed to a retail worker would not occur.
Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
Public facing workers, including those in the transport and hospitality sectors, are also covered under legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which covers serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
We introduced a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that police and security services have the powers necessary to apprehend people planning terrorist attacks in the UK.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The UK has one of the world’s most effective legal regimes for tackling terrorism. The Investigatory Powers Act, which the Government passed last year, ensures that law enforcement and the security and intelligence agencies have the powers they need in a digital age to disrupt terrorist attacks, subject to strict safeguards and world-leading oversight. And the Criminal Finances Bill will add to the ability of UK law enforcement to identify, investigate and disrupt terrorist finance activity.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the police and security services have the necessary powers to apprehend people planning terrorist attacks in the UK.
Answered by Amber Rudd
We continue to strengthen our Counter Terrorism powers. The 2015 Counter Terrorism & Security Act provided the police with new powers and created a general duty on public bodies to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. To apprehend terrorist suspects the police and security agencies need to collect intelligence to support arrests and develop evidence to secure prosecutions.
Therefore the government is taking forward the Investigatory Powers Bill, which will provide them with powers fit for the digital age.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 13 January 2014 to Question 181067, how many identified victims of trafficking who (a) participated and (b) did not participate in criminal proceedings were granted discretionary leave to remain on the grounds of personal circumstances in 2013; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
In 2013, 52 people who had been granted discretionary leave due to being recognised as victims of trafficking participated in criminal proceedings by assisting the police with their investigations into human trafficking.A further 35 individuals were granted discretionary leave but did not
participate in criminal proceedings.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many copies of her Department's publication Modern Slavery: how the UK is leading the fight have been printed to date; at what cost; and to whom that publication has been distributed.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The ‘Modern Slavery: how the UK is leading the fight’ booklet was published in the summer as part of our wider communications campaign to raise awareness that slavery exists in the UK. The booklet provides details of the Government’s comprehensive programme of activity to tackle modern slavery, including: information about how the Modern Slavery Bill will both help law enforcement to fight the crime more effectively and enhance protection and support for victims; detail of how we will ensure relevant partners will play their part; additional work being undertaken to improve victims identification, protection and support; work to safeguard child victims; partnerships with the private sector; and how we our developing our international response.
600 copies of the booklet have been printed at a cost of £192.84.The booklet has been distributed widely to Parliamentarians, civil society groups, and youth Parliament members. All copies printed to date have been distributed. The booklet is also available online via the GOV.UK website and PDF copies have additionally been distributed.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 4 February 2014 to Question 902388, how many victims of human trafficking received pre-trial therapy and counselling in accordance with the victims' code service in each of the last three years; what the cost to the public purse was of such therapy; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Government funds the Adult Human Trafficking Care and Co-ordination contract which ensures that potential victims of trafficking receive
appropriate care and support once they have been identified. As part of this contract and in compliance with our international obligations (Council of Europe Convention and the EU Directive on Trafficking in Human Beings), the Home Office has made it a core requirement for the Contractor to provide access to a range of specialist services, including therapy and counselling, to victims of trafficking who request or require it.
Such services are not necessarily related to pre-trial circumstances. Most victims of trafficking who are assisting the police are usually called to trial after they have left the service. As a result, pre-trial therapy and counselling would be received from other sources and not under the contract. For this reason, the Home Office does not collect the requested information.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) training and (b) financial assistance the Government has provided to local authorities to tackle human trafficking and modern slavery in each year from 2011 to 2014 to date.
Answered by Karen Bradley
No training or financial assistance has been provided directly to local authorities, by the Home Office, to tackle human trafficking and modern slavery in the years 2011-2014.
In 2013, three Non-Government Organisations were awarded total grant funding of approximately £75,000 by the Home Office to provide training to a range of local professionals, including those working in local authorities.
Home Office funding of £420,000 is being provided to Barnardo’s to fund independent child advocacy service trials for a period of twelve months in 23 local authorities.