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Category: Criminal Justice

  • David Lammy – 2021 Comments on the Judicial Appointments Commission

    David Lammy – 2021 Comments on the Judicial Appointments Commission

    The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 20 May 2021.

    Reports of discrimination and bullying by the Judicial Appointments Commission are very troubling but not wholly surprising.

    While completing my Review into bias across the criminal justice system, I encountered resistance from the leadership of the Judicial Appointments Commission to the issues I raised. To this day, well qualified Black and ethnic minority candidates are being snubbed by what still looks like an old boys network.

    It is right that the Equality and Human Rights Commission looks into these allegations. This will help determine whether the Judicial Appointments Commission is fit for purpose.

    In addition the Government should set a clear, national target to achieve a representative judiciary and magistracy by 2025.

  • Kit Malthouse – 2021 Statement on the Appointment of the Forensic Science Regulator

    Kit Malthouse – 2021 Statement on the Appointment of the Forensic Science Regulator

    The statement made by Kit Malthouse, the Minister for Crime and Policing, in the House of Commons on 17 May 2021.

    I am today announcing arrangements for the appointment of the Forensic Science Regulator. Following an open competition conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, I have decided to appoint Gary Pugh OBE. He is a forensic scientist who has previously held a number of senior leadership posts in forensic science in the UK, including the Director of Forensic Services in the Metropolitan Police Service and leader of national governance boards and operations. His three-year term of appointment commenced on 16 May.

    This appointment comes at an opportune moment, with the Forensic Science Regulator Act receiving Royal Assent last month. This means that for the first time the Regulator will have statutory powers to help drive up quality standards in forensic science.

    I should like to record the Government’s appreciation of the former Regulator, Dr Gillian Tully CBE, for her contribution towards the regulation of quality in Forensic Science in England and Wales.

  • David Lammy – 2021 Comments on Ending Violence Against Women

    David Lammy – 2021 Comments on Ending Violence Against Women

    The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 17 May 2021.

    The Conservatives are failing to protect women and girls from violent criminals, which should be one of the first duties of any government.

    With record low conviction rates for perpetrators of sexual violence and an epidemic of misogyny that makes women and girls feel unsafe, this Government is treating victims of violence as an afterthought.

    Enough is enough. Labour is putting tackling gender-based violence at the very top of our agenda.

  • Ellie Reeves – 2021 Comments on Rape Victims Giving Evidence on Video

    Ellie Reeves – 2021 Comments on Rape Victims Giving Evidence on Video

    The comments made by Ellie Reeves, the Shadow Solicitor General, on 17 May 2021.

    It is welcome to see the Government are finally implementing what Labour have long been calling for.

    Under the Tories rape prosecutions are at their lowest level on record.

    Many survivors feel the system is working against them, not for them. That is why Labour called for the fast tracking of rape cases through our courts, CPS and police in our Survivors’ Support Plan and in our Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Green Paper that Labour published today.

    We now need to look at the detail of what the Justice Secretary is doing to ensure that all survivors can benefit from giving their evidence as soon as possible

  • Peter Kyle – 2021 Comments on Number of Collapsing Criminal Cases

    Peter Kyle – 2021 Comments on Number of Collapsing Criminal Cases

    The comments made by Peter Kyle, the Shadow Victims and Youth Justice Minister, on 13 May 2021.

    Victims should be at the heart of our criminal justice system. Yet faced with a lack of enforceable rights and delays of several years until their case comes to trial, they are increasingly choosing to drop out of the process altogether – allowing perpetrators to go free.

    The Tories are failing in their core duty to protect victims, and to keep the public safe.

  • Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on the Draft Online Safety Bill

    Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on the Draft Online Safety Bill

    The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 12 May 2021.

    This new legislation will force tech companies to report online child abuse on their platforms, giving our law enforcement agencies the evidence they need to bring these offenders to justice.

    Ruthless criminals who defraud millions of people and sick individuals who exploit the most vulnerable in our society cannot be allowed to operate unimpeded, and we are unapologetic in going after them.

    It’s time for tech companies to be held to account and to protect the British people from harm. If they fail to do so, they will face penalties.

  • Michael Ellis – 2021 Comments on Tim Crosland

    Michael Ellis – 2021 Comments on Tim Crosland

    The comments made by Michael Ellis, the Attorney General, on 10 May 2021.

    Tim Crosland, a lawyer and a director of a registered charity, was wrong to have acted in contempt. His actions undermined our legal process and he acted in full knowledge of the likely consequences. It is right that the Supreme Court agreed and held him accountable for his actions.

  • Robert Buckland – 2021 Comments on the Pet Theft Taskforce

    Robert Buckland – 2021 Comments on the Pet Theft Taskforce

    The comments made by Robert Buckland, the Lord Chancellor, on 8 May 2021.

    We are a nation of animal lovers and many of us have sought the companionship of pets during the pandemic, which makes the reported spike in thefts especially cruel and shocking to many people.

    This taskforce will examine every option available to protect families from this appalling crime and make sure perpetrators feel the full force of the law.

  • Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on the Pet Theft Taskforce

    Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on the Pet Theft Taskforce

    The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 8 May 2021.

    Having callous thieves steal a much-loved pet is heart-breaking for families and it is deplorable that criminals seek to profit from this cruel crime. We are already taking action to combat such lawlessness by bolstering the police with 20,000 extra officers but this new taskforce will ensure we know how best to combat the driving forces behind this distressing crime and clamp down on the perpetrators.

  • Kit Malthouse – 2021 Comments on Police Recruitment Drive

    Kit Malthouse – 2021 Comments on Police Recruitment Drive

    The comments made by Kit Malthouse, the Policing Minister, on 29 April 2021.

    Joining the police to help make neighbourhoods safer is a noble career and I am heartened to see thousands more people make that choice.

    An increase of 8,771 officers is a great achievement, and I want to thank forces for their considerable efforts to help us exceed our target for the first year of the recruitment campaign.

    It is fantastic that our police forces are now more diverse than ever before, but we know there is still more work to do to on this front – I will continue working with police leaders to ensure our forces are truly representative of the communities they serve.