Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the independent review into the police management of registered sex offenders in the community will be published.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In March this year former chief constable Mick Creedon was appointed to conduct an independent review into the police management of registered sex offenders in the community. The review is looking specifically at how the police use their current capabilities to manage the risk posed by registered sex offenders and whether the regime protecting the public from them could be strengthened further.
The review, which is now in its concluding phases, will deliver its findings and recommendations to HM Government on what needs to be done across the policing and law enforcement landscape to enhance the management of registered sex offenders in the community in England and Wales. The findings will support our efforts to tackle horrific cases of sexual exploitation in places such as Rotherham. Ministers will consider how best to share the findings of the review with due regard to issues like operational sensitivities.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what will happen in cases where suspects have been released under investigation when new regulations on pre-charge bail come into force; and whether these suspects will be converted to pre-charge bail following their re-arrest.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Transitional arrangements for the pre-charge bail provisions within the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act state that only individuals who are arrested after the commencement of these provisions will be dealt with under the new system.
Individuals who were arrested and Released Under Investigation before the reforms are implemented will continue to be subject to the existing process.
Decisions on whether to place individuals on pre-charge bail are, and will continue to be, matters for police forces to consider, taking into account all of the risks.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what conditions a suspect of serious sexual offences released under investigation can be (a) given post charge bail conditions or (b) remanded.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Individuals who are Released Under Investigation (RUI) cannot have bail conditions set against them. RUI is a non-legislative police process which does not allow police to include conditions as part of a suspect’s release.
Before the suspect has been charged, police can use pre-charge bail where it is necessary and proportionate. This may be subject to certain conditions, for example, non-contact with the victim.
If charged, the police can apply post-charge bail. Post-charge police bail is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The courts can also impose post-charge bail under the Bail Act 1976, with conditions if appropriate.
Decisions on whether to remand a suspect are risk-based and include where there are grounds to believe that the suspect will not attend court, may commit another offence or obstruct the course of justice. Suspects will not be remanded unless the strict circumstances apply.
The Government has introduced legislation to reform the bail system to reduce the use of RUI and increase the use of bail. This will help to ensure that bail, including conditional bail, is used to adequately protect victims. Guidance will be issued by the College of Policing to accompany these changes.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Ashara London 1444H sermons given by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in Northolt were accredited by the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The UK Government does not play a role in accrediting sermons. In relation to visas granted to faith leaders, the Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) Hourglass and (b) other domestic abuse charities for older victims receive adequate funding.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this Government. We want to continue building on our landmark Domestic Abuse Act to further strengthen support available for all victims of domestic abuse, including the most vulnerable in society, and tackle perpetrators of these abhorrent crimes.
We know that domestic abuse affects a wide and disparate group and that a “one size fits all” approach is not appropriate to support all victims. Whilst anyone can suffer from domestic abuse, for older victims, abuse may be more hidden and disguised, or compounded by other age-related factors such as mental or physical ill health.
We also understand the importance of specialist and ‘by and for’ services (specialist services that are designed and delivered by and for the users and communities they aim to serve) in providing the tailored support that victims and survivors of domestic abuse need. We work closely with, and fund, organisations providing this vital support, including the charity Hourglass.
In 2021/22, the Home Office provided Hourglass over £200,000 to support their work in enhancing their helpline, providing casework support, and training specialist IDVAs. For 2022/23, we have provided pro-rata funding for an extended 8 months.
In March this year we went even further and published our Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. The plan invests over £230 million of new funding to tackle domestic abuse, with over £140 million to support victims. This includes over £47 million in ringfenced funding for victims’ services.
Our Domestic Abuse Plan commits to, where possible, offering multi-year awards to fund organisations supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This means that smaller organisations, including ‘by and for’ services, can offer a stable service to victims and survivors. The VAWG National Statement of Expectations, and Commissioning Toolkit, which we published alongside the plan, will also provide support to commissioners to help them increase provision of ‘by and for’ and specialist services.
We will be running an open commercial competition in the coming months for ‘by and for’ and specialist services, including those providing services for older victims. As part of the competition, we will undertake market engagement allowing interested organisations to discuss and input into the competition prior to bidding.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how a (a) serving and (b) retired officer can make an independent complaint about the police force they served in.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Members of the public can use the police complaints system to complain directly to the police force, or via the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) online form on its website which also explains the process.
The law provides for the most serious and sensitive matters, including allegations of assaults or serious corruption, to be referred directly to the IOPC. Since the Government’s reforms in February 2020, the IOPC has powers to initiate an investigation without having to wait for, or ‘call in’ a referral from the force itself. The IOPC has discretion to decide what matters it investigates and which it may direct the police to investigate or refer to the force to handle locally. All complaints have the right to a review to either the relevant Police and Crime Commissioner or the IOPC if they are dissatisfied.
Police officers are under a legal duty to report wrongdoing by fellow officers. They can do so via their own Professional Standards Department. An officer or former officer can also report concerns about actions of those within the police force with which they are serving or served by contacting the IOPC either via its dedicated report hotline or in writing. It is for the IOPC to decide how such reports are dealt with and which matters it investigates at the discretion of the Director General.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the process is for making a complaint about a police officer without that complaint being referred to the local force.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Members of the public can use the police complaints system to complain directly to the police force, or via the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) online form on its website which also explains the process.
The law provides for the most serious and sensitive matters, including allegations of assaults or serious corruption, to be referred directly to the IOPC. Since the Government’s reforms in February 2020, the IOPC has powers to initiate an investigation without having to wait for, or ‘call in’ a referral from the force itself. The IOPC has discretion to decide what matters it investigates and which it may direct the police to investigate or refer to the force to handle locally. All complaints have the right to a review to either the relevant Police and Crime Commissioner or the IOPC if they are dissatisfied.
Police officers are under a legal duty to report wrongdoing by fellow officers. They can do so via their own Professional Standards Department. An officer or former officer can also report concerns about actions of those within the police force with which they are serving or served by contacting the IOPC either via its dedicated report hotline or in writing. It is for the IOPC to decide how such reports are dealt with and which matters it investigates at the discretion of the Director General.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost was of the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into South Yorkshire Police response to child sexual exploitation cases, referred to as Operation Linden.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) published it’s report on Operation Linden on 22 June 2022. They have not yet compiled the total cost of the 91 investigations comprising this report.
The Director General of the IOPC will write to Sarah Champion MP in due course once the total cost is determined, and the Home Office will see that a copy of the letter is placed in the House library.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the review into registered sex offenders changing their name through deed poll will be published.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Protecting the public from sex offenders and other dangerous criminals is a top priority for the Government. We are committed to ensuring that the system and the monitoring that underpins the management of these offenders is as robust as it can be, and that the relevant safeguards are in place.
The review of offenders and name changes is nearing completion. As it is an internal review there are no plans to publish the findings, however, these will be used to inform future policy making.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help improve safeguarding within faith communities.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is committed to doing all that we can to ensure children and vulnerable groups are effectively safeguarded. As such, Home Office collaborates closely with other government departments - including Department for Education (DfE), Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) - to provide leadership and promote effective practice around safeguarding, including across faith communities.
The statutory safeguarding regime applies broadly, underpinned by Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018), the statutory guidance on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Referrals should be made by any organisation where there are concerns about a child or young person being at risk of abuse or harm.
DfE has also published a safeguarding code of practice for out-of-school settings, including religious supplementary schools, which brings together existing legal requirements and best practice into a single location.
In addition, DLUHC currently fund the organisation Strengthening Faith Institutions who help to create stronger, healthier, integrated and accessible places of worship across England, by delivering safeguarding training in faith institutions. SFI aim to build the capacity of grassroots organisations by delivering crucial expertise alongside local initiatives. They provide health checks for places of worship, alongside training courses to empower women, faith leaders, community leaders and young leaders from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Finally, the Government welcomes the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s report into child protection into religious organisations and settings, published in September 2021, and is carefully considering its findings and recommendations.