Oral Answers to Questions

John Lamont Excerpts

Thursday 13th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Griffith (Arundel and South Downs) (Con)]

3. What steps the CPS is taking to prosecute people responsible for county lines criminal activity.

[John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)]

6. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the CPS in prosecuting perpetrators of criminal activity by county lines networks.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. British Transport police is doing good work in this area, and the Home Office is providing £25 million of targeted investment over this year and next year to tackle this particular issue, £5 million of which is already in operational use. Overall, expanding the national county lines co-ordination centre will be very positive in getting results, including work with British Transport police to prevent disruption on the rail network. There is also investment in new technology, including automatic number plate recognition. We are working across the board with law enforcement agencies and partners to deal with these gangs.

[John Lamont]

As well as addressing county lines networks, what discussions is my right hon. and learned Friend having with the Scottish Government to deal with county lines across the border between Scotland and England?

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is right to raise that point. I am pleased to say there is good co-operation across jurisdictions—between the English and Scottish authorities—and between the different counties in England that co-ordinate on these matters. The NCLCC is working in this area, and I understand it is working very effectively.