Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 7 March (HL Deb, col 711), whether they will ask the Attorney General to invite the views of inspectorates of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service on the problems of prosecuting cases of FGM.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government will not tolerate a practice which can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. We strengthened the law in 2015, including through the introduction of Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders (FGMPOs), which are often issued with the purpose of preventing FGM from happening. 296 FGMPOs were issued between Octo-ber 2015 and September 2018. The Government works closely with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to ensure a robust and effective response to FGM.
Cases of FGM involving very young and vulnerable victims are among the most complex referred to the CPS. The CPS has appointed lead FGM prosecutors, and local investigation and prosecution protocols between the police and CPS are in place to ensure that robust cases for prosecution are built. A joint police and CPS focus group for so-called honour-based abuse (HBA), forced marriage and FGM is pushing for continuous improvement in the handling of HBA cases and an increased level of support for complainants and witnesses.
There are a number of specific issues with the prosecution of these crimes. They can involve victims being hurt and coerced by members of their own families and communities, making it difficult for them to feel confident to report the crime. Additionally, in many instances when cases are referred to the CPS, it does not have jurisdiction to prosecute, if the procedure was carried out overseas before the victim moved to the UK. Further, medical evidence alone cannot prove all the elements of the offence.
In 2015 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary published a report – “The depths of dishonour – Hidden voices and shameful crimes” into the police response to so-called honour-based violence, forced marriage and FGM. This made 14 recommendations for improvement. Progress against those recommendations is monitored by the Home Office, including at a meeting on 27 February 2019 of the National Oversight Group for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, chaired by the Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability.
The Government is working with communities and stakeholders to emphasise the adverse health consequences of FGM and the fact that it is illegal, including through a recent awareness-raising campaign and through ongoing outreach work by the Home Office’s FGM Unit.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Barran on 18 December (HL Deb, col 1697), whether they will seek specific advice from the College of Policing on appropriate guidance on exceptional circumstances justifying the naming a deceased person before charge.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice Guidance on Media Relations covers the exceptional circumstances and processes by which a suspect’s name may be released before charge. In May 2018, the College updated this guidance to make clear that it also applies where allegations are made against deceased persons.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will invite HM Inspector of Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service to analyse and report on the timeliness of the investigations into and prosecutions for sexual offences concerning girls in Huddersfield and other northern towns and cities.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is already inspecting the child protection work of every police in England and Wales through its National Child Protection Inspections. As part of these inspections HMICFRS will continue to inspect against forces’ awareness of and response to child sexual abuse and exploitation, including how well the service helps and protects vulnerable children and investigates these crimes.
The investigations in Huddersfield are ongoing and are an operational matter for the local police. It is for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to investigate allegations and build cases for prosecution. These parts of the criminal justice system are independent of government and it is a vital principle that police carry out their duties free from political interference.
It is for the locally elected Police and Crime Commissioner to decide how best to hold his force to account and commission a review if he considers it appropriate.
In addition, in March 2015 the Home Office established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to consider the extent to which institutions – including the police – have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The Inquiry has announced an investigation examining institutional responses to the sexual exploitation of children by organised networks.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to invite HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to set up a joint inquiry on the failure to investigate and initiate prosecutions in the case of the Gosport Hospital over the last 15 years.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government is considering the report by the Gosport Independent Panel and will provide its response setting out its next steps in the Autumn.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance has been given in the last ten years by the College of Policing to police authorities about believing witnesses; whether there have been any proposals to change that guidance in that period; and if so, what.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The College of Policing has not issued guidance to the police in respect of believing witnesses since its formation in 2012.
The College of Policing is currently considering the outcome of a review into the terminology used to guide police when an allegation of crime is made. The review can be found online here: http://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/review-into-believing-victims-at-the-time-of-reporting.aspx