All 2 Debates between Robert Buckland and Chris Davies

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Buckland and Chris Davies
Thursday 29th June 2017

(6 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
- Hansard - -

I can reassure the hon. Lady that the trends in relation to the prosecution of hate crime continue to increase, particularly with regard to racially and religiously aggravated hate crimes. The increase in the past year was 1.9%, which means that more than 13,000 cases are now being prosecuted. That is reflected across the piece when it comes to homophobic crime and disability hate crime. There is no bar at all to the CPS’s pursuing these cases and marking society’s condemnation of this sort of criminal activity.

Chris Davies Portrait Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Will my hon. and learned Friend tell the House what action the Government are taking to prevent the spread of hate crime via social media?

Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
- Hansard - -

My hon. Friend makes a very important point. May I reiterate that the law shows no distinction whatsoever between hate crimes that are committed offline and those that are committed online? Just because somebody hides behind a pseudonym and pursues hate online does not mean that the police and the CPS will not track them down and prosecute them, as we have seen notably in cases involving several Members of this House, who have been the victims of appalling hate crime.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Buckland and Chris Davies
Thursday 2nd February 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
- Hansard - -

My hon. Friend is right to press the Government for a commitment to action. Work is being done with the Ministry of Justice, and both the Attorney General and I are committed to ironing out the obvious inconsistencies in the system, which cause understandable frustration among victims and their families.

Chris Davies Portrait Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Over the last 12 months, how often has my hon. and learned Friend been asked to review sentences handed down by the courts?

Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
- Hansard - -

The number of sentences continues to increase. In 2015 we considered 713 requests, but of 80,000 passed in England and Wales in that year, only just over 100 were varied by the scheme. I think that that represents a vote of confidence in our judges and magistrates.