Tag: Attorney General

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 25 October 2022.

The Prime Minister has appointed Victoria Prentis as Attorney General of England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland.

The Attorney General will oversee the work of the Law Officers Departments which include the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office, and the Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

The Attorney General also carries out a number of functions in the public interest, such as considering unduly lenient sentences, and taking action when there has been a contempt of court. These functions are carried out independently of their role as a Government minister.

Commenting on her appointment, Attorney General Victoria Prentis said:

I am honoured to be appointed as Attorney General for England and Wales and look forward to working with my officials and with the many excellent professionals across the Law Officers’ Departments. I am delighted to be returning to the law, having spent seventeen years as a government lawyer before being elected to Parliament.

I want to thank my predecessor Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP who twice served in the role and has left me with such a strong record to build upon.

One of my first priorities is to continue the government’s work in rebuilding confidence in our justice system, particularly with victims.

I am proud to be joining the Attorney General’s Office, a unique and historic government department that makes law and politics work together at the heart of the UK constitution.

Victoria Prentis’ biography:

Victoria Prentis was appointed Attorney General on 25 October 2022. Victoria was previously Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions from 7 September 2022 to 25 October 2022. Her responsibilities included the labour market and Universal Credit. Previous to that she served as Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 16 September 2021 to 7 September 2022, covering fisheries, farming and food.

Before that, she was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 14 February 2020 to 15 September 2021.

She was elected as the Conservative MP for Banbury in May 2015.

Political career

Victoria served on the Justice Select Committee from 2015 to 2019, the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments from 2015 to 2017, and as a lay member on the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art from 2019.

Victoria also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General from 2019 to 2020, to the Leader of the House of Commons from 2017 to 2019, and to Junior Ministers at the Department for Transport from 2016 to 2017.

Career outside politics

Victoria was called to the bar in 1995. For seventeen years Victoria was a lawyer for the Treasury Solicitors’ Department and headed up the government’s Justice and Security team. Her responsibilities included providing advice on military, prisons and national security matters and representing the government in court.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 21 October 2022.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 13 October 2022.

A man who sexually abused a child has had his jail term increased after the case was referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.

Haydn Carter, now 47, abused the teenager on at least 6 occasions between 2000 and 2002.

On 5 July 2022, at Guildford Crown Court, he was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months’ imprisonment for two offences of indecent assault.

Following the sentencing, his case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

On 13 October 2022, the Court found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 7 years’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

“Over a two-year period, Carter repeatedly abused a vulnerable young person causing immeasurable damage to her.

“I welcome this increased sentence which better reflects the harm caused. It sends a clear message that sexual offences will not be tolerated and will be addressed with robust punishment.”

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 12 October 2022.

A man who raped and abused a woman has received an increased prison sentence after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raped the victim twice and subjected her to controlling and coercive behaviour. He also subjected the victim’s daughter to physical and verbal abuse.

On 15 July 2022, the offender was sentenced to 8 years’ and 3 months imprisonment for two counts of rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, child cruelty and common assault. The offender also received a restraining order.

Following the sentencing, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

On 12 October 2022, the Court found the original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 11 years 9 months’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Attorney General Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP said:

The offender subjected the victim to despicable assaults and controlling, coercive behaviour, which will have a lasting impact on the victim and her daughter.

Increasing the sentence sends a clear message that any type of abuse is not acceptable and will be met with tough punishment.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 11 October 2022.

A well-known rapper who ran a county drugs line operation has received an increased prison sentence after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Between October 2021 and January 2022, drill artist, Alieu Koroma, 22, was in control of a county drugs line operation. Koroma, whose music has been played on BBC Radio 1, sent bulk marketing messages to drug users and directed a vulnerable 14-year-old to deliver drugs and collect cash. The drug line Koroma was in charge of was used over 7,500 times and had nearly 800 customers.

On 1 July 2022, Koroma was sentenced to 3 years 10 months’ imprisonment for offences including being knowingly concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of a bladed article. The sentencing took place at Wood Green Crown Court.

Koroma’s sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme for being too low.

On 11 October 2022, the Court found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and imposed a new sentence of five years and three months’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

The class A drugs sold by Alieu Koroma are dangerous and ruin lives. Supplying them at this scale is a serious offence, so I am glad that the Court has handed down a longer sentence that is a better reflection of the crimes that have taken place.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 6 October 2022.

Two men who fatally stabbed a Croydon man have had their sentences increased after the Court of Appeal found their original sentences to be unduly lenient.

On 15 December 2019, Donald Owusu, now 25, and Harvey Macfoy, now 26, used a tracker device to locate 33-year-old Albert Amofa as they believed he was carrying cannabis in his vehicle.  The victim was located outside his home in his vehicle and stabbed five times to the upper leg hitting his femoral artery. Owusu and Macfoy fled the scene empty handed. Mr Amofa died from his injuries two days later.

On 7 July 2022 at Central Criminal Court, Donald Owusu was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder with a minimum term of 25 years. Harvey Macfoy was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder with a minimum term of 21 years.  Macfoy received an additional 20-month sentence to run concurrently for intending to pervert the course of justice.

The original sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme because they appeared too low.

On 6 October, the Court of Appeal found Owusu and Macfoy’s sentences to be unduly lenient and increased Owusu’s minimum sentence to 27 years’ imprisonment and Macfoy’s to 23 years’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

The senseless and vicious murder of Albert Amofa has caused immeasurable pain and suffering to his family, and my thoughts are with them today.

I welcome the Court’s decision to increase both sentences today as I believe they better reflect the intent behind this awful attack.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 6 October 2022.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 6 October 2022.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 29 September 2022.

The Attorney General confirms the requirement not to publish material which could prejudice ongoing criminal investigations and potential prosecutions.

Following the fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba on 05 September 2022 a homicide investigation has commenced in respect of the officer who fired the fatal shot.

HM Attorney General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP, wishes to amplify the importance of not publishing any material where there is a risk that it could prejudice any ongoing criminal investigation or potential prosecution. Publishing this material could amount to contempt of court.

Editors, publishers and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under both the common law and statutory regimes in relation to publications.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 29 September 2022.

The Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP was sworn in as His Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales in a joint ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice today.

His Majesty’s Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP was also sworn in at the ceremony. Speaking after the ceremony, His Majesty’s Attorney General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP said:

I am honoured to be sworn in after returning as His Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales. As the Government’s chief legal adviser, my focus will be upholding the rule of law and strengthening our justice system.

I also warmly welcome Michael Tomlinson MP to his role as His Majesty’s Solicitor General. Michael brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the role.

Commenting on his new appointment, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

It is a privilege to be sworn in as His Majesty’s Solicitor General for England and Wales.

There are important responsibilities that come with this unique role which has been part of our constitution for centuries, and I look forward to working with His Majesty’s Attorney General to play my part in upholding the rule of law and carrying out the public interest functions of the Attorney General’s Office.

HM Attorney General is the Government’s chief legal advisor and also attends Cabinet. As well as providing advice to government, HM Law Officers (the Attorney General and Solicitor General) oversee the Law Officers’ Departments which include the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

HM Law Officers carry out a number of functions in the public interest, such as considering unduly lenient sentences and taking action when there has been a contempt of court. These functions are carried out independently of their role as government ministers.

The Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP was first appointed Attorney General on 2 March 2021 and held office until 10 September 2021. He was reappointed on 6 September 2022.

Michael Tomlinson MP was appointed as Solicitor General for England and Wales on 7 September 2022.