Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Randall Excerpts

Wednesday 7th December 2022 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) (Con)]

3. What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for (a) small boat gangs and (b) other people traffickers.

[Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con)]

12. What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for (a) small boat gangs and (b) other people traffickers.

[The Attorney General (Victoria Prentis)]

Since we enacted the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 at the end of June, prosecutions for illegal entry and facilitating illegal entry have increased by 250%. We are working across Government to ensure that we can stop the life-threatening crossings and prosecute the gangs behind them.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Attorney General]

The rate of prosecutions for people trafficking has increased enormously: in 2021-22 it rose by 48%, owing to intensive collaboration between the police and prosecutors.

[Tom Randall]

I share the anger and frustration felt by many people in Gedling about the small boats issue and the traffickers behind it. What assurance can my right hon. Friend give me that frontline operatives are collaborating on the investigation and prosecution of pilots of small boats?