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  • Sadiq Khan – 2022 Speech on Trust in Policing

    Sadiq Khan – 2022 Speech on Trust in Policing

    The speech made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 June 2022.

    Thank you, Leonita.

    Not only for that introduction and your inspiring words…

    …but for everything you’re doing to ensure the voice, opinions and ideas of young people are heard loud and clear as we develop policies and programmes to reduce violence in our city.

    As Sophie said, what you do is vital.

    So please – let’s have another round of applause for Leonita.

    —

    Next year is the 30th anniversary of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence.

    It’s as important as ever that we not only remember and celebrate Stephen’s life, but that we acknowledge – and reflect upon – his legacy.

    The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry found that the Metropolitan Police Service was institutionally racist, and that institutional racism existed in other police forces around the country.

    This judgement was a landmark moment in the history of British race relations…

    …triggering far-reaching reforms to policing, public services and criminal law in this country.

    There’s no doubt that the police and criminal justice system have made significant and positive steps forward since then.

    But it’s become painfully clear that further reform – on a far-reaching scale – is now urgently needed.

    And let me be frank, I consider this to be one of the most important speeches I will give as Mayor.

    Because after nearly two hundred years since the creation of the Met, policing in our city has reached a crossroads.

    And ensuring we take the right path is crucial to the future of our city.

    At the outset, I must and want to put on record again that there are tens of thousands of incredible, incredibly brave and decent police officers in the Met…

    …dedicated public servants who go above and beyond every day to keep us safe.

    Just last week a Metropolitan police officer ran into a house-fire to save a family.

    And, every year, the Police Bravery Awards highlight some remarkable stories of courage in London:

    From two police officers saving the life of a seven-year-old girl who was being attacked.

    To officers saving the lives of two teenagers after they used themselves as human shields.

    The job the police do – protecting us and upholding the law of the land – makes everything else possible.

    It’s the bedrock upon which all else can flourish.

    And we owe the men and women who risk their lives – often in the knowledge that they have children and loved ones to get home to after a shift – a huge debt of gratitude.

    —

    So let’s be clear:

    Talking about the need for urgent police reform is not being anti-police.

    Far from it.

    In fact – it’s the exact opposite.

    It’s about believing the police can be excellent.

    And it’s about facing up to some hard truths so that we can ensure we have the best, most effective and most professional police force for Londoners.

    A police force that is second-to-none at bearing down on crime, bringing people to justice and keeping our city safe.

    —

    Throughout my time as Mayor, I’ve defended London’s police when I think they’ve been unfairly criticised.

    And this is something I’ll always do.

    No other Mayor has invested more in the police than I have.

    Good officers are one of the most valuable and precious resources we have in London.

    But given what’s at stake, we have a duty to be honest about the extent of the problems and the systemic and organisational changes that are urgently required within the Met, rather than seeking to downplay or shy away from the challenge we face.

    The reality is that a series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems within the Met, but have contributed to an acute crisis of confidence in London’s police force.

    A crisis that has left trust in the Met police at rock bottom among too many communities – many of whom – if we’re being honest – already had little faith in the police force.

    The latest crisis comes in the wake of:

    The kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.

    The heavy-handed policing of the vigil held in Sarah’s memory.

    Two police officers sharing pictures of the murdered sisters, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.

    The failures during the Stephen Port investigation that probably contributed to the deaths of his final three victims – Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor – after the murder of Anthony Walgate – with accusations that homophobia prevented the police from catching the serial killer sooner.

    And the shameful strip-search of Child Q – a 15-year-old Black girl whose degrading treatment was likely influenced by racism.

    The testimony of Child Q’s mother – about how her daughter has gone from a bubbly, happy-go-lucky girl to someone who’s self-harming, in need of therapy and screaming in her sleep – has been utterly heart-breaking.

    —

    And I’ll never forget the first time I read the shocking Operation Hotton report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, just over four months ago.

    That exposed sickening evidence of overt racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination and misogyny among police officers at Charing Cross station.

    The messages shared between officers threatened rape, glorified sexual violence and were openly racist, Islamophobic and antisemitic.

    One read:

    “My dad kidnapped some African children and used them to make dog food.”

    Another:

    “Some uniform or plain clothes work on Somalian rats… I battered one the other day…”

    And another:

    “You ever slapped your Mrs?… It makes them love you more…”

    I’m not going to read any more, don’t worry.

    But perhaps what was most striking – and revealing – was that these officers felt comfortable sharing deeply offensive messages in Whatsapp groups with other officers – messages that were only made public due to an independent investigation.

    And this points to a much wider problem – a damaging culture.

    And – damningly – the Independent Office for Police Conduct concluded as much.

    Clearly, these issues were not isolated or historic, and cannot simply be explained away as the actions of just a few bad apples.

    I know that what’s been exposed in recent months has profoundly affected countless Londoners, who have every right to be outraged and to be demanding answers.

    These are feelings I share.

    The scandals have left me sick to my stomach – disgusted and extremely angry.

    Partly because they remind me – and I’m sure many other Londoners – of the bad old days of the Met.

    The Met I knew from my childhood.

    Growing up in the 1970s and 80s on a council estate in south London, it was commonplace to hear stories from friends and family members of racist, sexist and abusive behaviour by police officers.

    There was a palpable sense in my community that the presence of the police on our local streets did not offer reassurance or a sense of protection, but rather fear…

    …the fear of being unfairly criminalised or mistreated.

    In my life – and during the course of my career – I’ve seen and felt the damage that this kind of breakdown of trust can cause.

    It makes it harder to tackle crime.

    It prevents victims and witnesses of violence from coming forward.

    It discourages many girls and women from reporting rape, domestic abuse and sexual harassment.

    And it leads to local communities – the eyes and ears of the police on the ground – becoming less likely to work with officers when, for example, they’re worried about young people getting involved in criminal gangs and violence.

    This affects us all, and the safety of everyone in our city.

    —

    This is why the damage to trust and confidence in the police is not a side issue or marginal concern that can be downplayed or dismissed.

    Trust is everything.

    We have a longstanding tradition in this country of policing by consent.

    It’s the very foundation upon which our whole system of policing rests.

    At the heart of this approach is the recognition that for policing to be effective, public approval, respect and confidence in the service is paramount.

    When this trust is eroded, our model of policing – and thereby public safety – is put at risk.

    Trust is absolutely fundamental to preventing crime, to solving crime and to ensuring we have the best possible police service for Londoners.

    This is why you simply cannot divorce the deep cultural issues that clearly exist within the Met from its wider performance as an institution.

    The two are inextricably linked.

    To put it simply:

    The more inclusive the culture, the more trust the police can command…

    The more trust the police can command, the more they can drive down crime.

    And – in turn – the more crime falls, the more trust the police can win.

    It’s this virtuous circle we must create – replacing the depressing downward spiral of recent years.

    During my time as Mayor, violent crime has fallen in the capital.

    We’re managing to buck national trends:

    Since 2016 when I was first elected:

    Gun crime is down by 30 per cent.

    Knife crime with injury is down by 11 per cent.

    Knife crime where the victim is under 25 is down by 24 per cent.

    And the number of teenagers murdered in our city is down by 64 per cent in the first five months of this year.

    Of course, we’re not complacent.

    These are not just numbers – they’re people.

    One murder on our streets is one too many – leaving parents, siblings and friends grieving.

    We cannot rest.

    And if we’re to continue making progress, ensuring communities across London have trust in our police force is going to be critical.

    This is particularly the case when it comes to tackling the senseless knife crime that results in the murder of young Londoners, including a disproportionate number of young Black people, many just teenagers… just children.

    We know that violent crime is not a problem we can solve simply through enforcement alone.

    We’re never going to be able to arrest our way out of this problem.

    Prevention and early intervention are key parts of the puzzle, where trust is integral.

    Because it means working in partnership with families, local communities, schools, charities, the NHS, youth clubs, and the police… to prevent children from being sucked into criminal gangs and violence in the first place. This is a public health approach.

    So how can we turn things around?

    As Mayor, I’ve already taken a series of steps since 2016 – using the limited powers and resources available to me – to boost trust and confidence in our police force.

    This includes:

    A huge push to recruit more officers from London’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, as well as more women.

    Investing to protect visible neighbourhood policing.

    And the world’s biggest rollout of body-worn cameras to London’s frontline officers.

    We’ve also launched a new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

    We’ve put trust and confidence at the heart of our new Police and Crime Plan;

    We’ve comprehensively overhauled the gangs Matrix, removing over a thousand young Black men from the database.

    And we’ve published an Action Plan to address the concerns about the disproportionate use of certain police powers on Black Londoners, including stop and search.

    But this must just be the start.

    We now need to see nothing less than a new contract forged between the police and the public.

    This means root and branch reforms to improve policing to ensure the Met can deliver the basics better.

    It means an overhaul of disciplinary processes.

    And it means systemic change to the Met’s culture.

    But before any of this, before any of this, Londoners need to hear the leadership of the Met publicly acknowledge the scale and depth of the problems.

    Something which will be a crucial first step for the next Commissioner to start rebuilding trust and credibility with our communities.

    Look, no one expects the police to be perfect, or to get things right all the time.

    But they do expect the Met to be honest and open about their mistakes – to identify problems and to admit when they’re happening.

    It’s a sign of confidence, not weakness.

    And it’s essential to rebuilding trust.

    —

    I make no apology for demanding this.

    It’s not about being political.

    It’s democracy in action.

    It’s the checks and balances of power, without which we’d still be living with the kind of policing we saw before the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

    My job as the elected Mayor of this great city is not only to support the police in bearing down on crime, but to hold the Met to account.

    And I’ll never shirk from these duties.

    That’s why I want to make crystal clear today I won’t support the appointment of a new Commissioner unless:

    They can demonstrate they understand the true extent of the cultural and organisational problems within the Met.

    That they appreciate the moral and operational imperatives to confront them head on.

    And they have a convincing plan to reduce crime further, improve detection rates and bring more criminals to justice.

    London needs a reforming Commissioner.

    Someone in the mould of Sir Robert Mark – who got the job in 1972.

    He became known for his determination to root out corruption and criminality.

    For the way he took steps to improve relations with communities in London.

    For making the Met more transparent.

    And for driving forward efforts to make the police more diverse.

    Although some of the issues the Met faces today are of course different, there’s no doubt that we need someone with a similar drive to reform.

    Not just of the culture and standards, but of some of the fundamentals of the organisation.

    —

    We also need someone who acknowledges that they’re never going to be able to solve all the problems alone.

    This means the type of leadership that:

    Understands and accepts the Met needs to improve.

    And is ready and confident enough to bring in outside expertise and oversight to ensure we get the systemic, organisational change – from top to bottom – that’s required.

    —

    The next Commissioner needs to ensure that every rank and layer of the Met is working towards a shared goal and is properly held to account.

    In short, the next Commissioner must ‘get it’.

    They must be a reformer.

    They must be humble in accepting the limitations of the Met, and open to learning and constant improvement.

    And they must put forward a comprehensive plan to deal with these deep-rooted problems with urgency and conviction.

    I’ll accept nothing less.

    This is my promise to Londoners.

    I’ve dedicated a large part of my working life to trying to make policing better.

    And – as Mayor – I’ll not stop until we’ve delivered the police reforms and step change in policing culture that our city deserves.

    To achieve this – and to forge a new contract between the police and the public – we need to see a whole host of new commitments and reforms:

    More robust vetting of new and serving police officers.

    Better recruitment processes to ensure we only get the right, top quality people in the job.

    Far-reaching changes to the misconduct process, which includes making it much faster.

    Proactive procedures to weed out those who should never have been allowed to become police officers in the first place.

    Strengthened IT monitoring within the Met to help identify corrupt officers and inappropriate behaviour.

    Ensuring officers and staff have confidence to come forward as whistleblowers.

    Better training and supervision – particularly sergeants and inspectors who are so influential in shaping the frontline police culture and delivering the policing Londoners expect.

    Clear steps on how the Met will not just tackle racism, but proactively be an anti-racist institution.

    Greater community oversight and engagement with Londoners from all backgrounds.

    And a first-class emergency response, which protects Londoners, supports victims and brings those who commit crime to justice.

    Ensuring the Met is the best in the world at the bread-and-butter issues of policing will always be a key part of rebuilding trust.

    Because it’s about assuring Londoners that our police force will always be there for them – and for all our communities – in their time of need.

    —

    We must also redouble our efforts to hire more officers from diverse backgrounds.

    The Met is bigger and more diverse today than at any time in its history, but we have a long way to go.

    And so I want to take this opportunity now to appeal to Londoners from all backgrounds to apply to join the Met police.

    Now, more than ever, we need you.

    London needs you.

    Because you can help change the culture of the Met from within.

    You could help serve our great city.

    And you could help us to ensure we have a police force that is truly representative of the communities it exists to serve.

    I was instrumental in the establishment of the independent review of culture and standards at the Met, and I look forward to examining Baroness Louise Casey’s report and considering any recommendations she makes.

    I also supported the Home Secretary’s decision to order a full inquiry into the issues raised by the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.

    Because I know this tragedy has done so much to damage the faith of women and girls in the police.

    As we move forward, I’m keen to work both with the Home Secretary and the new Commissioner to ensure we act on the findings of these reports and the reforms I’ve outlined today.

    This is especially true with regard to changes to the misconduct process, which can only be made with the Home Secretary and the Government’s approval.

    We need to work together.

    Because this goes much wider than London.

    As the Police Foundation has said, the cultural and systemic problems in London – which has led to in their words “a crisis of public confidence” – are also present across the country, and will also require sweeping reforms at a national level.

    —

    I’m hopeful that together – in partnership with the next Commissioner, the Home Secretary, the Government, members of our police force and London’s communities – that we can:

    Deliver the reforms that are needed to create a modern police service, fit for the future.

    That we can drive out racism, misogyny, discrimination and bullying.

    And that we can restore the trust and confidence of Londoners in their police force.

    In 21st century Britain.

    In an open, diverse city like ours.

    It’s essential that all of London’s communities feel like the police are there not to threaten or criminalise them, but to protect and serve them.

    I’ve heard time and again – directly from the parents of girls and Black teenagers, and young people across our city – that what they want more than anything else is for their children to be safe, to feel safe, and to feel like the police is there to protect them – and is on their side.

    On their side.

    They should expect nothing less.

    It’s what I want when my daughters go out in London.

    It’s what every parent and Londoner wants.

    And we mustn’t relent until this is the case.

    Let me just finish with this important point:

    I fundamentally believe in the Met.

    And I’m proud to be London’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

    I know we have thousands of brilliant police officers who not only share my concerns, but my aspirations for better policing in London.

    I’ve spoken to many who are just as disgusted as I am by what’s come to light in recent times – and feel badly let down by their colleagues and the toxic culture that’s been allowed to take hold.

    They’re desperate to play their part in raising standards, aiding organisational change within the Met, and ensuring the bond with the communities they serve is restored and strengthened.

    —

    People who say that when we come down hard on police officers who behave badly we are somehow reducing confidence in the police are totally wrong.

    It’s the opposite.

    And it sells our good officers short.

    We need to create the right culture in policing to ensure the good officers have the trust of the public, which will make it far easier for them to do their job.

    It’s the decent police officers we have in the Met that continue to give me hope that we can meet the challenges ahead.

    Because I know that with the right leadership at the top of the Met, they are the ones who can do what’s needed to win back public trust.

    —

    Of course, history tells us that none of this is going to be easy.

    Change on this scale at the speed we need is difficult.

    But we owe it to Stephen Lawrence, to Sarah Everard, to Child Q, to all the victims of the recent scandals, to all their friends and families, and to all Londoners –– to continue the struggle with fierce determination and an unflinching sense of purpose.

    Because change is long overdue.

    And delivering it will be crucial to building a better, fairer and safer London for everyone, and for all our communities.

    Londoners deserve the best policing in the world – and I believe we have the potential to get there.

    Thank you.

  • Victoria Atkins – 2022 Statement on Rape Cases

    Victoria Atkins – 2022 Statement on Rape Cases

    The statement made by Victoria Atkins, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, in the House of Commons on 16 June 2022.

    Today the Government are announcing additional funding for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, publishing a progress report on the implementation of the rape review action plan and the next iteration of the criminal justice system (CJS) delivery data dashboard. These form an important part of our commitment to transform the criminal justice system response to rape, boost transparency and ensure victims get the support they deserve.

    The Government are announcing:

    An additional £6.6 million p.a. boost on a multi-year basis throughout this spending review period, for services supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. £6 million is being provided directly to police and crime commissioners to increase community-based support in local areas and £0.6 million for training to support the recruitment of the 300 additional independent sexual violence advisors and independent domestic violence advisors over the next three years.

    The publication of a progress report one year on from the publication of the end-to-end rape review action plan. This delivers on commitments in the rape review to be transparent and accountable to the public on how we are progressing work to improve the cross-system response to rape.

    The third iteration of the criminal justice system delivery data dashboard, previously named the CJS scorecard. This publication includes additional Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) metrics and population adjustments.

    Together, these products will contribute to this Government’s commitment to restore faith in the criminal justice system, pursue justice for victims, and build back safer.

  • Victoria Atkins – 2022 Speech at the Modernising Criminal Justice Conference

    Victoria Atkins – 2022 Speech at the Modernising Criminal Justice Conference

    The speech made by Victoria Atkins, the Prisons Minister, on 15 June 2022.

    One of the reasons I came into politics was thanks to a 12-year-old boy called ‘Billy’.

    Before I was elected to Parliament in 2015, I spent nearly two decades working in criminal courts as a barrister. In one of my earliest cases, I was sent to a Youth Court to represent Billy for an opportunistic commercial burglary.

    I arrived at court to find Billy there, completely alone, with no appropriate adult. It was his first offence and he was terrified.

    When I asked him whether mum or dad were coming to court, he replied “I’ve never known my dad and my mum will be flat-out drunk on the floor”.

    It was 09.30 in the morning…

    With that first criminal conviction, twenty years ago, Billy’s diminishing life chances could be predicted with depressing certainty – as could the harms for society that his future offending would mean.

    Two decades later, it is the mission of this government to make our streets safer and it follows that modernising the criminal justice system is a priority. I welcome this opportunity to share the Government’s ambitious plans for delivering on these aims in partnership with you.

    We want to prevent harm from happening in the first place. If we can prevent young people from being ensnared in a life of crime, we spare the pain of potential victims and we save the taxpayer billions-a-year on services such as policing, children’s social care, courts and even detention.

    These costs continue into adulthood as 80 percent of prolific adult offenders commit their first crimes as children. It is therefore in our best interests to try to stop harm from happening in childhood – not just for today and tomorrow, but for the decades to come.

    This is why last month we announced our new £60m “Turnaround” early intervention programme which will support up to 20,000 more children in England and Wales. It will target those at risk of criminality before they start a cycle of offending which, if left unaddressed, can escalate towards more serious crime.

    This is just one part of our determined efforts to tackle youth offending. Our ten-year, £200m Youth Endowment Fund is not only funding intervention programmes but it is evaluating what works to help local commissioners spend tax-payers’ money on the most effective interventions – again, modernising our processes to ensure the best results for the public. To back this up, in the Ministry of Justice alone, we will be investing a total of over £300m over three years to tackle youth offending.

    We have already seen a dramatic reduction in the last decade of children entering custody, down by two thirds, but we want to go further. This is not only the right thing to do for the children themselves, it is also the right thing to do for society, helping to make our streets safer.

    As part of this intervention and prevention work, one of the most pressing facts that we must confront in criminal justice is racial disparity. In 2020/21, two thirds of children arrested in London were from minority ethnic groups. We are working at all stages in the youth justice system to address disparities, including helping youth justice services to understand the needs of ethnic minority children; tightening the tests applied to ensure that custodial remand for children is a last resort; and improving the diversity and training of Youth Custody Service staff to maximise the chances of rehabilitating young people in custody.

    We are also working with the Metropolitan Police to trial the automatic receipt of legal advice for children in Brixton and Wembley custody suites. This will mean that vulnerable children, a disproportionate number of who are from a minority ethnic background, will receive the legal advice they need automatically – an “opt out” model, as opposed to the usual “opt in” model, removing the perception some may have that they have to ask for help. If successful, this trial could be rolled out further to help ensure that justice is served.

    Our work in the adult system includes our detailed cross-government responses to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparity report, the David Lammy Review and our Race Action Programme for prisons and probation. Some of the actions taken include reform of prison processes that led to unexplained disparities, better support for ethnic minority-led services, and encouraging diversity in our court and prisons workforces. This is vital work for a justice system in the 21st century.

    One of the areas in criminal justice which is seeing the most modernisation is our work to tackle violence against women and girls. I have the responsibility of drawing this work together across government, focusing particularly on the treatment of rape and sexual violence cases.

    Last year will be remembered for the shocking murders of women going about their lives – walking home from a friend’s, or out for a drink, attending a party in the park or walking their dog. These appalling murders led to a national conversation about women’s experiences and what we can all do to stop this.

    We wanted women and girls to help shape our new national Strategy to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. We re-opened the government’s consultation and in just two weeks, we received 160,000 responses – an unprecedented level which demonstrated the public’s anger and expectation that things must change.

    We published the new cross-government strategy last summer and its work is well underway. For example, a new public communications campaign – #Enough – has been launched to break the biases and attitudes that contribute towards these crimes. Again, this work is about preventing the harm from happening in the first place.

    But where horrific offences such as rape and sexual violence are committed, the criminal justice system must respond quickly, effectively and justly. Last year, we conducted a forensic examination of each stage of the criminal justice process, from the moment a victim reports such a crime to the police, to the moment the case results in a conviction or acquittal. We published the End-To-End Rape Review and have identified eight levers which can help secure justice for more victims.

    These include:

    … rolling out suspect-focused investigations techniques across police forces and the CPS; so that the suspect’s behaviour is examined not the victim’s credibility

    … addressing victims’ concerns about handing over their phones to the police for sometimes days or weeks on end through our investment in modern technology and new disclosure guidelines;

    … increasing victim support funding to £185 million by 2025,

    … raising the number of specialist Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisors by 43 percent – a vital service for victims that not only helps them recover but also helps them stay the course with an investigation or prosecution;

    … and rolling out pre-recorded cross-examination and re-examination nationally to improve the court experience for vulnerable witnesses and help them to provide their best evidence.

    We are measuring all of this through transparent reporting of data both nationally and locally, via local Criminal Justice Board areas so that we and the public can see what is happening in their local areas.

    The early signs of progress are encouraging…

    … The police are referring more rape cases to the CPS…

    … More people are being prosecuted…

    … The average number of days for adult rape cases from the CPS charging a suspect to the case being completed has continued to fall, down by 5 weeks since the peak in June 2021.

    … And convictions for rape are up 67 percent compared to 2020.

    But there is more to do – and you will hear more in the coming days and weeks on our efforts to modernise further the criminal justice response to these devasting crimes.

    Finally, I would like to talk about prisons. We need a criminal justice system that stands up for victims, delivers swift justice and protects the public by imprisoning offenders and rehabilitating them. We set out our plans in for the prison estate in the Prisons Strategy White Paper in December. I would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation and I am pleased to announce that we published the response yesterday.

    … It’s what the public wants and expects to see.

    … So, we are toughening sentences.

    … We are creating new prison places.

    … And we’re investing £3.8 billion pounds over the next three years that will be used to build modern prisons that prioritise the rehabilitation of offenders.

    HMP Five Wells is an example of what the modern prison estate will look like. With 24 workshops available – more than any other prison in the country – and cutting-edge tech that puts education, training and jobs at its core, prisoners will be given the right opportunities to turn over a new leaf.

    Because, as you know, all these factors are proven to cut crime, reduce reoffending and protect the public.

    And we’re confident that following the same prison blueprint at HMP Fosse Way, when it opens next year, will allow even more offenders to spend their time preparing to give back to society on release.

    We know, however, that our vision for the next generation of prisons is unachievable without the brilliant people that run them, and work in them. Our workforce will grow considerably as we recruit up to 5,000 new officers in line with prison expansion across the public and private estate.

    We are committed to supporting our staff so that they are equipped with the right skills to meet the diverse needs of prisoners in a safe, decent, and secure environment.

    And in order to retain the talent and experience the Prison Service attracts, we have developed a number of new interventions. These include a supervision pilot which is now live in two prisons, a leadership training pilot – where attrition is highest, and two new mentoring and budding schemes which are being rolled out across all prisons.

    An extended part of our reducing reoffending work is tackling the scourge of drugs. If we are to stop prison from being a revolving door for repeat offenders, ensuring drugs don’t get into the hands of prisoners is also of the upmost importance.

    As explained in the Prisons Strategy, we’re taking a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to the smuggling of illicit items such as drugs, weapons, and mobile phones, which fuel crime and violence behind bars.

    That’s why we have invested £100 million pounds in security over the last three years. We know that body scanners in prisons in England and Wales have foiled twenty thousand plots to smuggle drugs, phones and weapons into jails.

    We want to build on this and so are investing an additional £25 million in new technology and security measures to detect the very latest handsets tucked away in the crevices of cells, as well as microscopic smears of illegal substances such as spice on prisoners’ mail.

    And more of the most challenging prisons will be kitted out with the full range of the most up-to-date, innovative technology specially designed to keep contraband out of prisons – including airport-style baggage scanners.

    As we tackle the conveyance of drugs into prisons, we are also supporting offenders to face up to and beat their substance misuse issues.

    And under our plans outlined in the Prison Strategy White Paper, all prisoners will have access to a full range of high-quality treatment, including abstinence-based treatment options as soon as they arrive at custody.

    When offenders overcome their addictions, they have the best chance of keeping on the straight and narrow once released and our streets become safer as a result.

    We know that education and employment reduce reoffending significantly, with prison leavers in employment being nine percentage points less likely to reoffend.

    We are delivering a Prisoner Education Service within this parliament to raise prisoners’ levels of numeracy, literacy, skills and qualifications with the aim of helping them secure jobs or apprenticeships on their release.

    To do this, we must give prisons the tools they need to succeed. We will invest in digital infrastructure, more training that delivers the skills employers need, more education experts to support Governors and improved support for prisoners with additional learning needs.

    And we are introducing apprenticeships into our prison system for the first time that will not only cut crime and reduce reoffending, but also address local labour shortages.

    We are ensuring prisons are equipped to offer the training and work experience offenders need to secure jobs once released, which we know is another powerful tool in our fight against crime.

    We are rolling out Employment Advisory Boards and employment hubs in every resettlement prison which link offenders with job opportunities on the outside. I have seen for myself the success of these innovative schemes at HMP Lincoln and HMP Thorn Cross.

    We will deliver a presumption in favour of offering offenders the chance to work in prison, on Release on Temporary Licence and on release, including by building stronger links with employers.

    And we have listened to prisoners and campaigners in recognising the value of family.

    Research shows that if a prisoner receives visits by a partner or family member, the odds of reoffending are 39 percent lower than for prisoners who do not.

    So, we’re designing prisons, introducing innovative schemes and reforming regimes to factor this in across the prison estate. HMP Five Wells for instance has a family area, a homework club and facilities that allow prisoners to join parents’ evenings.

    And for female offenders who are sent to custody for short sentences, our new £10 million-pound residential women’s centre in Swansea – opening in 2024 – will support many to live healthy, crime-free lives, whilst keeping them closer to their own community and families.

    In closing, I want to thank all of you for your dedication to improving the criminal justice system.

    Together we can fight for the victims who feel voiceless…

    …Neighbourhoods that feel neglected…

    …And offenders who need the right opportunity to go straight.

    Together, we can make our streets safer for us all.

    From increasing the number of people convicted for rape offences, to getting more prisoners job-ready with their backs turned on crime for good – working together gives us the greatest chance of achieving lasting change for the justice system.

  • Victoria Atkins – 2022 Statement on the Prisons Strategy White Paper

    Victoria Atkins – 2022 Statement on the Prisons Strategy White Paper

    The statement made by Victoria Atkins, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, in the House of Commons on 14 June 2022.

    Today I am publishing the Government response to the prisons strategy White Paper consultation.

    The prisons strategy White Paper was published in December 2021. The commitments in the paper tackle this Government’s priorities for prisons: building the next generation of prisons and managing an estate that is safe and secure for staff and prisoners; supporting rehabilitation and resettlement through education, employment and accommodation; and creating prison and probation services that cut crime and protect the public.

    A total of 19 questions were included in the White Paper to ensure the views of interested parties were considered. The consultation opened on 7 December 2021 and closed on 4 February 2022, receiving 155 responses. The Government have carefully considered the responses and are grateful for all of the contributions.

    Since publication of the White Paper, this Government have moved swiftly to deliver its aims:

    HMP Five Wells opened in March, delivering 1,700 modernised places.

    Digital upgrades have been delivered to a further seven prisons, with four additional sites completed by October 2022.

    The landmark security investment programme was completed in March 2022, including the deployment of enhanced gate security across 42 high-risk sites.

    Committed an additional £25 million investment in prison security: installing high-specification drugs trace detection, mobile phone blocking technology, x-ray baggage scanners, and an intelligence management system.

    Secured £34 million to improve prison safety and move towards a more preventative approach.

    Accelerated the roll out of employment hubs with 23 now established and the appointment of 20 employment board chairs.

    Announced that we will legislate to enable prisoner apprenticeships, in collaboration with the Department for Education.

    Committed to action on Friday releases to tackle the strain this can cause if prisoners cannot access essential services; this includes pursing legislation to address this issue for those at risk of reoffending, when parliamentary time allows.

    Plans to open a residential women’s centre in Wales to provide a community-based alternative to a short custodial sentence.

    Launched our staff retention toolkit into all prisons alongside a number of new initiatives to support retention, including a new buddy scheme.

    Key performance indicators, introduced in April 2022, set clear expectations of delivery, and governors will be held to account as part of their performance reviews.

    As the consultation response makes clear, this is the start of an ambitious delivery plan in the years to come and the Government are committed to continued engagement with stakeholders to ensure we deliver on it.

    Today, I lay in Parliament this response, which sets out the views of respondents to our consultation questions and how the Government propose to implement the commitments in the White Paper.

  • Holly Lynch – 2022 Speech on the Draft Terrorism Act

    Holly Lynch – 2022 Speech on the Draft Terrorism Act

    The speech made by Holly Lynch, the Labour MP for Halifax, at the Delegated Legislation Committee in the House of Commons on 13 June 2022.

    It is a pleasure to serve under you in the Chair, Ms Elliott.

    I thank the Minister for his opening remarks. I was listening carefully. He and his colleagues will be aware that the Opposition expressed a series of grave concerns about the Nationality and Borders Act, which allowed for these provisions, but we very much recognise the practical nature of the changes in the draft order as we work collectively to keep our nation safe. We are satisfied that changes to the code of practice for examining and review officers under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act are proportionate and appropriate to keep the country safe from the threat of terrorism.

    The Minister outlined that this draft legislation will extend existing powers for use away from UK ports in specific circumstances. We recognise that small boats continue to arrive at varied locations, including remote beaches outside established travel hubs, and that measures have to be able to respond to that challenge. As the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall QC, said in his consultation response:

    “In principle, people arriving irregularly in the UK, should be liable to counterterrorism examination, as much as those arriving at sea ports and airports.”

    I welcome that the Government have been clear that the powers cannot be used as a mass screening mechanism and that the provisions in the new order remain entirely separate from immigration enforcement, given our staunch opposition to the immigration and asylum changes brought about by the Nationality and Borders Act. We feel that the consultation and the Government’s response to it have improved this delegated legislation, and we particularly welcome the response I mentioned provided by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall QC.

    If I may, I will ask the Minister to respond to two particular points. The consultation responses highlighted the fact that clarification would be beneficial about which facilities would be included under paragraph 28 of the draft revised code, which states that the

    “presence of the person in an immigration detention centre, police station or equivalent location”

    in certain specified circumstances may support an officer’s belief that a schedule 7 examination can be conducted. I note that the Government recognised the calls for clarity about the use of equivalent locations but argued that for the code to exhaustively categorise or list the various types of location would risk excluding some relevant locations or facilities simply because they were not explicitly included. Saying that is particularly relevant where some facilities are operationalised or closed at short notice—for example, because of covid-19.

    Needless to say, given some of the facilities that were operationalised at short notice by the Home Office during the covid pandemic, and operationalised without public health guidance being adhered to, I would have liked to see a list of suitable equivalent locations available for scrutiny and would still urge the Government to consider that further.

    We endorse the recommendation that examination locations are also able to be inspected under article 4 of the optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, to ensure that we are in keeping with article 6 of the European convention on human rights, and we hope that the Minister will confirm that that is the case. We also support Jonathan Hall’s recommendation that consideration should be given to training counter-terrorism police officers to deal with individuals who have arrived in the UK irregularly and therefore have special welfare considerations. We note that the Government have committed to considering that and so will the Minister update the Committee on any such discussions with the College of Policing and counter-terrorism policing in establishing training and guidance relevant to best practice in the exercise of schedule 7 powers?

    We believe those recommendations to be sensible and appropriate, but I again stress that we recognise the stark reality of needing to be ever vigilant about those terrorist organisations and so-called lone actors who are ruthlessly opportunistic in seeking to exploit weaknesses in our defences. Consequently, it is right that we ensure that our national security legislation is dynamic in responding to contemporary and emerging challenges, if we are to minimise that risk.

     

  • Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Violent Crime in London

    Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Violent Crime in London

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 9 June 2022.

    Tackling violence and making our city safer is my number one priority. In London, we’ve been tackling violent crime head on by being both tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. This has resulted in violent crime falling since before the pandemic.

    But the level of violence remains far too high. One death is one too many, with every death leaving lives destroyed, communities hurting and families heartbroken. I’m determined to build on the progress we have made, but we must acknowledge that the spiralling cost of living could make things even more challenging and even risks taking us backwards.

    That’s why I’m working closely with the police and community groups across London to provide them with the resources they need. It’s why I’m investing record amounts in initiatives to support young Londoners at critical stages in their lives. And it’s why I’m doing all I can to support Londoners through the cost of living crisis, while calling on the Government to take much bolder action.

    As with poverty, violence is not inevitable. The progress we have seen in London proves that by working together to tackle crime and addressing its complex causes, we can help save lives and make our communities safer.

  • Kit Malthouse – 2022 Statement on Serious Violence Duty

    Kit Malthouse – 2022 Statement on Serious Violence Duty

    The statement made by Kit Malthouse, the Minister for Crime and Policing, in the House of Commons on 9 June 2022.

    The Government are today announcing the publication of a consultation on the draft statutory guidance on the serious violence duty (the duty) which will be issued by the Secretary of State as statutory guidance under chapter 1 of part 2 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to support specified authorities and organisation exercising functions in relation to the duty.

    The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 introduced the duty to ensure specified authorities, being police, fire and rescue authorities, local authorities, specified health authorities and criminal justice agencies and organisations work collaboratively, to share data and information, understand the causes and consequences of serious violence, focusing on prevention and early intervention, and put in place plans informed by evidence to prevent and reduce serious violence. In addition, section 6(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 has been amended to ensure that serious violence is an explicit priority for community safety partnerships and that a strategy is in place to explicitly tackle serious violence.

    The duty is a key part of the Government’s programme of work to reduce serious violence and put an end to the tragedies afflicting our communities. It is very important we work together, across Government, statutory, private, and voluntary sectors to deliver this crucial change. The Government have made £130 million available this financial year, 2022-23, to tackle serious violence, including murder and knife crime.

    This Government committed to update and formally consult on the draft statutory guidance published in May 2021 on before the duty’s implementation. Officials have revised the guidance by engaging with other government departments, stakeholders and wider partners. Government amendments are also reflected in the new draft, and these:

    provide clarity that the definition of violence for the purpose of the duty includes domestic abuse and sexual violence,

    exclude patient information and in addition health or social care authorities cannot share personal information under the data sharing provisions in respect of the duty,

    restrict data requests from local policing bodies, PCCs, and in London the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the Common Council of the City of London as police authority, to information already held by an authority to whom the request is made,

    require that the Secretary of State lays a copy of the final statutory guidance for the serious violence duty in Parliament,

    clarify on the face of the legislation that specified authorities must publish a strategy and that regulations will provide further detail about the publication or dissemination of a strategy.

    Specific guidance is included for authorities operating in Wales, to reflect the distinct Welsh legislative and operational context as well as additional content on housing and homelessness. The outline policy for secondary legislation on the publication and dissemination of local partnerships serious violence strategies and local policing bodies’ discretionary role to support the development and implementation of the local serious violence strategy is included.

    The consultation, which launches today, 9 June, will run for a period of six weeks, closing on 21 July. Once the response to the consultation along with a final version of the guidance have been published, the duty and associated secondary legislation will be commenced to enable local partnerships to work towards publication and dissemination of their serious violence strategies.

    A copy of this consultation and the draft statutory guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and also made available on gov.uk.

  • Priti Patel – 2022 Comments on Outlawing Tunnelling Protests

    Priti Patel – 2022 Comments on Outlawing Tunnelling Protests

    The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 7 June 2022.

    This country will not be held to ransom by so-called activists unconcerned about putting the lives of others in danger.

    These death traps don’t just put lives at risk, they divert precious police resources away from where they are needed most.

    These measures will give our police the powers they need to crack down on this lawlessness and continue to make our streets safer.

  • Priti Patel – 2022 Comments on First Migrants Being Sent to Rwanda

    Priti Patel – 2022 Comments on First Migrants Being Sent to Rwanda

    The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 1 June 2022.

    Our world-leading partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system and break the evil people smugglers’ business model.

    Today’s announcement is another critical step towards delivering that partnership and, while we know attempts will now be made to frustrate the process and delay removals, I will not be deterred and remain fully committed to delivering what the British public expect.

  • Suella Braverman – 2022 Statement on Disclosure Review and Guidelines

    Suella Braverman – 2022 Statement on Disclosure Review and Guidelines

    The statement made by Suella Braverman, the Attorney General, in the House of Commons on 26 May 2022.

    I should like to provide details of the annual disclosure review 2021-22 and the corresponding amendments to the Attorney General’s disclosure guidelines.

    Following the significant changes to the disclosure guidelines, which came into effect on 1 January 2021, I committed to undertake an annual review of the guidelines, which has now concluded, and alterations to the guidelines premised upon the review’s findings have been made.

    The vast majority of the disclosure guidelines remain as they were when they came into effect on 1 January 2021. The changes have focused on four primary areas:

    Third party material access—the provisions for accessing third party material are now expressed in a staged manner to aid with their application by busy investigators, disclosure officers and prosecutors. The principles are also strengthened in line with the dicta of the Court of Appeal in R v. Bater-James & Anor [2020] EWCA Crim 780. Investigators and prosecutors are also now explicitly required to keep written records of the reasons for making third party material requests, and to balance such requests with the privacy rights of those affected.

    Material presumed to meet the test for disclosure—this section of the guidelines has been subject to limited restructuring in order to clarify that material contained in a crime report need only be provided once, via the provision of the crime report, and need not be duplicated where it appears elsewhere. Important clarifications to the practicality of providing large video files, especially body worn videos, have also been made to aid investigators.

    Defence engagement—throughout the guidelines, guidance as to how and when the defence should provide information to the prosecution has been clarified and where appropriate made more definitive.

    Redaction annex—a new annex has been added clarifying how investigators should meet their data protection obligations when providing material to the CPS for the purposes of a charging decision.

    The Government are keen to ensure that victims get efficient and effective justice, and that investigations and prosecutions are not impacted by undue or needless burdens being placed on the police. These changes will assist in enhancing the efficiency of disclosure and offer clear, rigorous and practical guidance to support this end.

    I will place a copy of the updated disclosure guidelines in the Libraries of both Houses so that they are accessible to Members.