Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Craig Whittaker and Lee Anderson

Thursday 4th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con)]

1. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the handling by the CPS of emergency workers' assault cases during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con)]

6. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the handling by the CPS of emergency workers' assault cases during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Attorney General (Suella Braverman)]

A disappointing feature of this pandemic is the number of assaults on emergency workers, but I am reassured by the robust approach that the Crown Prosecution Service has taken. During the first month of lockdown, the CPS prosecuted more than 300 cases of assaults against emergency workers. It is clear that, when an individual threatens to infect an emergency worker by deliberately coughing or spitting, it will be treated extremely seriously by prosecutors.