Crime and Policing Bill

Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson Excerpts

Wednesday 11th March 2026 Lords Chamber

Like the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, I urge the Minister to consider coming back at Third Reading with the extension back to 12 months, to reassure the parents who have lost their children that others will not have the stress and anxiety that the time the Government are offering is inadequate. I know that Ellen Roome, to whom the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, referred, would very much appreciate a meeting with the Minister, which I and perhaps the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, could also join, just to talk through these points in detail. If I may, I say on her behalf that she wrote to the Attorney-General at the beginning of December with an application to reopen the inquest into her son’s death, which I think lasted less than half an hour. She has still received only a notification that it is under consideration. I plead with the Minister that she should get a decent and respectful reply as quickly as possible.

[Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Con)]

My Lords, I will not detain the House at this hour. I thank the Minister for the progress the Government have made on this since we spoke about it in Committee—it really is a step forward. However, like other noble Lords, I urge the Minister to just go a little bit further, and, if she could possibly address the issues raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, that would be fantastic. I hope she will have good news for us when she stands up.

[Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Con)]

My Lords, I begin by placing on record my gratitude to all the noble Lords who have led the campaign on this important issue, none more so than the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, who has so ably championed this cause. I think it self-evident that we all acknowledge the harms that phones and social media are doing to our youth. I speak as a father of teenage children who are grappling with these very issues day to day.

This is most tragically brought to the fore when phones and social media lead to the death of children. Parents who face this unimaginable tragedy should be able to know what their child was accessing, and the evidence from these awful incidents should prove to the general public that steps have to be taken. I see no argument for why the police should not be required to collect evidence relating to potential digital harm, as indeed they are required to do for general causes of death. Similarly, if social media has in part led to the death of a child, the bare minimum that providers should do is to retain the data relating to the victim.

I too express gratitude to the Minister for considering the arguments raised in Committee and acting upon this. I understand that many in your Lordships’ House believe that Amendment 429A does not go far enough and that it does not place the desired duties on police forces. However, I welcome at least the start that this represents.

There is a tension, I fear, between what the Government are doing in your Lordships’ House—rightly, making concessions on the issue—and, at the same time, in the other place voting against further protections from online harms. The Minister’s amendment today places duties on providers. It is a short step from mandating data retention to enforcing age limits. This is not the time for that debate in its entirety, but it is worth putting it on the record. I reiterate my gratitude to all Members of your Lordships’ House who have campaigned on this important matter.