Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Written Ministerial Statement HCWS265 what category of offences is included within Priority One cases, and how many Priority One cases (a) are live cases, (b) involve people convicted but not sentenced,(c) involve people bailed in advance of trial or sentence and (d) involve convictions that resulted in a prison sentence.

Priority one cases are not restricted to any categories of offences. They are live cases that are near or in trial including where the individuals: are in custody, Crown, Magistrates’ or Coroners’ Courts; have been convicted but not sentenced; have been bailed in advance of trial or sentence; or are in prison.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council is leading a national plan in response to the impact on criminal and coroners’ cases, including the prioritisation and offence type. In the majority of these cases, the original samples remain available for independent retesting, which is being managed through a prioritisation process.