Written Question
Wednesday 10th January 2024
Asked by:
Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question
to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to tackle violence against women and girls through the criminal justice system.
Answered by Laura Farris
This Government’s track record in tackling violence against women and girls includes introducing
• Our landmark Domestic Abuse Act, which created the new criminal offence of non-fatal strangulation; recognised wider forms of abuse, such as emotional and economic abuse, in law for the first time; and extended the controlling and coercive behaviour offence to include post-separation abuse; and,
• The Rape Review, through which we have tripled the number of cases the police are now referring to the CPS and more than doubled the number of adult rape cases reaching court since 2019.
And we are going further by introducing:
• The Sentencing Bill, which will legislate to ensure that rapists and the most serious sexual offenders remain in prison for the whole of their custodial sentences, up from 2/3 currently and after the last Labour Government lowered it to only 50%; and
• The Criminal Justice Bill, which will strengthen the multi-agency management of offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Nov 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"Two of my constituents who were subjected to a vicious, unprovoked knife attack, as well as many others in the bay, felt let down by the justice system due to the level of sentence that was applied. They continue to feel let down by not getting information about someone who …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 12 Mar 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"I welcomed the publication of the victims strategy back in September but, as my hon. Friend will know, giving evidence is one of the most stressful parts of seeking justice for any victim of crime. Will he reassure me that he will also be working with people such as police …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
View all Kevin Foster (Con - Torbay) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 11 Feb 2019
Legislation against Female Genital Mutilation
"I was one of the few Members here on Friday afternoon. I have also used the “object” procedure, mostly to object to Bills that my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Sir Christopher Chope) is moving to progress without debate. I therefore find some of his reasoning somewhat questionable. It …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
View all Kevin Foster (Con - Torbay) contributions to the debate on: Legislation against Female Genital Mutilation
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 07 Feb 2019
Legal Aid: Post-Implementation Review
"I once worked in a criminal legal aid practice, so the reference to that area of law in the Secretary of State’s statement was particularly welcome. Will he outline how he will ensure that the evaluation takes into account the needs and views of those who provide criminal legal aid …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 24 Jan 2019
Joint HMI Prison and Probation Report
"It is, of course, welcome that more victims are getting justice, even if it is many years after the abuse they suffered. As the Minister rightly outlined in his statement, this puts pressure on the system. Can he confirm that there will be a move towards supervised accommodation where possible …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 23 Jan 2019
Courts IT System
"I must say it is a relief to hear that the Prison Service was not affected by this problem. Will the Minister reassure me completely that there is no prospect that any criminal hoping this may allow them to escape justice or be released slightly earlier will benefit? In essence, …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 18 Dec 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"The Minister responsible for rehabilitation will be aware of the great work that groups such as St Mary Magdalene church in Torquay do with ex-offenders. That work could be enhanced if such groups could use the old Torquay magistrates court, which is still empty. Will he agree to meet me …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Dec 2018
Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [Lords]
"The Minister is outlining well the position under the current regulations. Does she agree, therefore, that specifying the needed qualifications in primary legislation would be unwelcome when we already have a perfectly effective system that does not require such qualifications, which could then in future be changed by further primary …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
View all Kevin Foster (Con - Torbay) contributions to the debate on: Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [Lords]
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Oct 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"There will always be difficulties when debts are pursued, particularly when people may genuinely be struggling to pay them. As for the call for evidence, how will the Minister be working with local authorities, which obviously engage bailiffs to enforce council tax debt against those who may be struggling most …..."Kevin Foster - View Speech
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