Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dominic Grieve and Bridget Phillipson

Tuesday 8th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney-General]

If I may say, the evidence is overwhelming that we are moving to greater consistency in sentencing. The Sentencing Council and the progressive rolling out of sentencing guidelines is an immensely helpful tool to judges in ensuring consistency in sentencing. In addition, if the judge has not explained any inconsistency with the guidance, that usually provides a good basis for my making a reference in those cases which are referable. I think we are moving in the right direction, and that progress is totally supported by the judiciary. I therefore hope that, as we move to new areas in which guidance is provided, the need for me to make references will go down.

[Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab)]

4. What steps he plans to take to ensure that child abuse offences are prosecuted successfully.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dominic Grieve and Bridget Phillipson

Tuesday 27th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab)]

8. What assessment he has made of the effects of the appointment of domestic violence specialist Crown prosecutors on the effectiveness of prosecutions for domestic violence offences.

[The Attorney-General (Mr Dominic Grieve)]

All Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors have been trained in domestic violence cases. Dedicated prosecutors are linked to specialist domestic violence courts and each CPS area has a co-ordinator to deal with violence against women. As I mentioned earlier, successful prosecutions of domestic violence have significantly increased from 65% in 2006-07 to 72% in 2009-10. We believe that these roles have been key contributors to such improvement.

[Bridget Phillipson]

The introduction under the Labour Government of specialist prosecutors has no doubt been a crucial factor in driving up the success rate of prosecutions in cases of domestic violence. Will he commit the CPS to continue to focus its efforts on prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence?

[The Attorney-General]

As I mentioned earlier, the CPS sees the prosecution of domestic violence as one of its key priorities—there are, of course, others, but it is one of them. For that reason, it has no intention of relaxing or giving up on trying to ensure that these cases are properly prosecuted and taken through the courts.