Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Andrew Rosindell

Tuesday 9th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

I would be very interested to hear about the case that the hon. Gentleman mentions. There is regulation in relation to bailiffs. For example, they have to be appointed by the court every two years. They come to the court to get their authorisation. So measures are in place to protect people, but we are looking at the issue and we must go further.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

2. How many private prosecutions initiated by third parties (a) were brought to trial and (b) resulted in a conviction in the last five years.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Lucy Frazer)]

The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the fact that prosecutions can be brought by private bodies as well public bodies. The Ministry of Justice data does not currently identify whether a prosecution is public or private.

[Andrew Rosindell]

Like me, the Minister will have heard reports of police allowing perpetrators of domestic violence and especially of FGM to escape justice by a reluctance to prosecute. Will the Minister please inform the House of what is being done to ensure that we do not simply push responsibility to prosecute on to already traumatised victims?

[Lucy Frazer]

We must of course prosecute those who are alleged to have committed the terrible crimes that my hon. Friend talks about. We have strengthened the law. Failing to protect a girl from FGM is now an offence, and we have introduced an element of coercive control in domestic violence. We in the Ministry of Justice continue to work closely with the Home Office and the Attorney General, who is responsible for the Criminal Prosecution Service, to ensure that crimes are prosecuted.