Tag: Dominic Raab

The statement made by Dominic Raab, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, in the House of Commons on 15 December 2021.

I am today announcing the publication of Sir Christopher Bellamy’s “Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid” report.

Since his appointment as chair of the review at the end of last year, Sir Christopher has undertaken a “whole-system” review of criminal legal aid fee schemes and the market of providers in England and Wales, considering its role as an enabler of many functions of the criminal justice system. Throughout his review, Sir Christopher has been supported by a dedicated expert advisory panel including legal practitioners, academics and members of the judiciary. Evidence to the review has been wide-ranging, reflecting the experiences of the legal profession, victims, witnesses, and defendants. I would like to thank Sir Christopher for his dedication in undertaking this important review and members of the expert advisory panel and other contributors for their comprehensive work.

I am extremely grateful to members of the Bar, the solicitor profession and chartered legal executives for their continued professionalism, dedication, and adaptability in delivering vital public services, particularly against the challenges of the pandemic, including their commitment to reducing court backlogs.

Sir Christopher has set out his vision for the role of legal aid in an efficient and effective criminal justice system. I recognise the importance of remuneration in delivering long-term sustainability of the market and I will consider his recommendations on this matter very carefully.

Beyond the important issue of funding, I welcome many of the principles underpinning his vision for the role of legal aid in an efficient and effective criminal justice system. I agree that data-sharing and transparency can enable us to make a better assessment of the efficiency, incentives, costs and effectiveness of criminal legal aid. My Department is continuing to explore ways to improve the availability and accessibility of data across the criminal justice system. Alongside the review, the Government have supported greater transparency by launching criminal justice system scorecards, which bring together data on a range of performance measures.

I am committed to ensuring defendants and other users of criminal legal aid services have access to high-quality advice from a diverse range of practitioners. I will carefully review Sir Christopher’s findings and consider where there are opportunities for the Government and the legal professions to work together to improve diversity to achieve a more equal gender and ethnicity balance within the profession and to support young barristers after pupillage.

I also recognise the importance of ensuring suitably experienced advice is available as early in a case as possible, so that cases are resolved at the earliest opportunity, increasing efficiency and improving outcomes in the criminal justice system. Sir Christopher makes specific recommendations on pre-charge engagement, which I will consider carefully.

It is important that the provision of criminal legal aid services meets the needs of its users, which may differ between regions. We will carefully examine the findings in the review around the potential for improving local outcomes, and in particular the potential future role of local criminal justice boards.

Beyond Sir Christopher’s review, the Government continue to support the defence profession and the wider criminal justice system. The Government have committed to invest £2.2 billion between 2022-23 and 2024-25 to meet increased demand on the criminal justice system from the additional 20,000 police officers and to fund the system’s recovery from covid-19. As part of the latest spending review, the Government have also committed over £200 million across the spending review period to complete the £1.3 billion court reform programme by the end of 2023. The court reform programme is an important step towards digitising court and tribunal services and enhancing the experience of their users.

In his review, Sir Christopher notes that listing decisions are for the judiciary. He also notes that how cases are listed is important to efficiency and to the experience of victims, witnesses and practitioners. We will consider Sir Christopher’s analysis to see where we can support further improvements.

My Department will continue to work with legal professionals and the judiciary on the future of remote hearings. As with listing, while the format of hearings is a judicial function, there are issues to consider around consistency.

We will consider Sir Christopher’s findings fully, and consult before taking decisions regarding his specific recommendations. It is right that such a detailed report receives the thorough consideration that it deserves, while giving the legal profession an indicative timeline. Therefore, I intend to publish a full response no later than the end of March 2022 alongside a consultation on all policy proposals.

Sir Christopher’s report can be found on gov.uk and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, on 7 December 2021.

We’re building the prisons to incarcerate dangerous and prolific offenders. We’re deploying the tech to stop the flow of drugs, weapons and phones into prisons. And we’re re-orienting the regime to get offenders off drugs for good, and into work – to cut crime, and keep the pubic safe.

The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 30 November 2021.

The law must provide maximum protection to the most vulnerable and no-one is more vulnerable than a young child.

So, we are increasing the maximum penalty for child cruelty causing or allowing serious physical harm from 10 years to 14 years, and the maximum penalty for causing or allowing the death of a child from 14 years to life imprisonment.

I pay tribute to the courage of young Tony Hudgell and his adoptive parents Paula and Mark.

The statement made by Dominic Raab, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, in the House of Commons on 24 November 2021.

I am today announcing the Government’s decision to bring forward “Harper’s Law”.

PC Andrew Harper was tragically killed responding to a theft in July 2019. The defendants in the case, two aged 17 and one aged 18, were convicted of the unlawful act manslaughter of PC Harper, with two receiving a sentence of detention of 13 years, and another receiving an extended sentence of 19 years. These sentences correctly reflected the law at the time, but I do not believe the law goes far enough here.

PC Andrew Harper’s widow, Lissie Harper, has campaigned tirelessly for justice for her late husband, alongside the Thames Valley Police Federation and with support from other police federations across the country and Members across this House.

Following detailed discussion with the Home Secretary, I am today announcing “Harper’s Law”. This measure will extend mandatory life sentences to those convicted of the unlawful act manslaughter of an emergency worker who is exercising their functions as such a worker.

This sentence will apply to 16 and 17-year-olds as well as adult offenders. It will include judicial discretion to allow for the imposition of an alternative sentence in truly exceptional circumstances. The minimum term of the life sentence, or the minimum amount of time the offender must spend in custody before being considered by the Parole Board for release on licence, will still be for the courts to determine.

This measure reflects the vital role which our emergency workers fulfil in protecting all of us. It recognises the risks that emergency workers face. I will bring forward this measure at the earliest legislative opportunity.

The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 11 October 2021.

Equipping prisoners with the skills to help secure a job upon release is vital to enabling them to turn their lives around, providing them with a purpose and allowing them to give something back to society.

The Lifecycle project is a terrific scheme, providing skills in demand, and recognising the doctors, nurses and other key workers who have been the heroes of our pandemic response.

The speech made by Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 5 October 2021.

Seven years ago, when he was Mayor of London,

I took our Prime Minister down to Fight for Peace,

A boxing and martial arts academy in Newham.

I wanted to show him the power of sport and mentoring to turn young lives around.

We were both blown away.

I had been volunteering there,

Working with one teenager from a particularly tough background.

He had served time for armed robbery.

He was a risk-taker, Conference,

You could even say he was entrepreneurial

It was just channelled in the wrong direction.

I watched this young man take a second chance to turn his life around before my eyes…

With the self-belief instilled by his boxing coach,

The tutoring to equip him with GCSE level English and Maths,

And his first job as a steward at the London Olympics …

After that he never looked back.

If, like me, you believe in a second chance society …

Then we need to tap the reforming power of local groups like Fight for Peace,

To divert young people away from the gangs, the drugs, the violence…

So their lives are better and our streets are safer.

Because, our first duty is always to protect the public.

We’re investing £4 billion to deliver 18,000 extra prison places…

We need the extra cells to restore some honesty in sentencing,

And incarcerate those who threaten the public with serious harm.

Take the case of Timothy Deakin.

In 2013, he was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months, for biting another man’s ear off.

But he was released automatically half-way through his sentence.

Eight months later, he stabbed to death a 27-year old father …

Leaving behind a devastated family.

That’s just plain wrong.

So, right now, we’re passing a new law through Parliament,

For violent and sexual offenders… we’re ending the automatic half-way release from prison.

Of course, conference,

Most offenders will eventually be released from prison.

So, for those who are serious about taking that second chance to turn their lives around,

We must do more to support them.

You may remember the Clink scheme,

A restaurant set up at HMP High Down in 2009.

Training offenders in their kitchens,

To give them the skills to get a job when they are released.

The Clink now operates in 8 prisons,

And the prisoners who take part are a third less likely to re-offend …

Because if you give someone a job, if you give them something to lose …

They’re much less likely to return to crime.

So, this year, I’m trebling the Clink scheme, and extending it to another 17 prisons.

And I say to any employer with skills shortages, come and talk to us.

Because we need more employers willing,

Under the right conditions,

And with the right kind of vetting for those involved,

To work with us to train and take on ex-offenders.

To help businesses plug staff shortages,

And to help us reduce re-offending.

Next, we’re expanding the use of tech to protect victims and reform offenders.

Women who have been the victim of sexual attacks can give virtual testimony,

To avoid having to face the assailant in person.

And we’re investing in modern GPS tracking,

So we can better monitor offenders released on licence …

To make sure they turn up to work,

Keep away from their victims,

And stay on the straight and narrow.

We also know that 39% of violent crime is linked to alcohol.

Now, game-changing innovation in sobriety tags can test whether someone has been drinking every 30 minutes.

We piloted the scheme.

And, because offenders know they’ll be caught if they breach an alcohol abstinence order … 95% comply,

With 1,500 offenders taking that positive step forward …

Towards cleaning up their act,

And creating a brighter future for them, their families and their communities.

I want to expand their use,

And deliver the same technology for offenders on drugs.

Friends, there is one area where we must do a whole lot better.

Like you, I was shocked by the harrowing murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.

These cases have sparked a national outpouring of fear and anger,

Because they go to the heart of the kind of society we want to live in

Making our communities safer,

So that women can walk home at night,

Without having to look over their shoulder in fear …

As Justice Secretary, that’s my number one priority.

In July, we launched our Violence against Women and Girls Strategy …

With a dedicated policing lead reporting directly to the Home Secretary.

We’re investing £30 million to make the streets safer at night,

We’re introducing a 24/7 rape and sexual violence hotline.

We will transform the way the justice system treats violence against women

From the time it takes to examine a mobile phone in evidence

To the ordeal vulnerable victims face at trial,

And we will take the Victims Code, and turn that guidance into law

To make sure that in every case, for every victim

Their voice is heard, and they see justice done.

It’s a team effort, ladies and gentlemen, and I’m blessed with the very best …

In Kit Malthouse, Vicky Atkins, Lord Wolfson,

James Cartlidge, Tom Pursglove, Scott Mann,

Joy Morrissey, Julie Marson and Mike Wood.

All supporting the crime fighters across our justice system,protecting the public and cutting crime.

As for the Labour party, they’ve got a Shadow Home Secretary who voted against extra funding for the police.

They’ve got a Shadow Justice Secretary who opposed our stop and search reforms to clear our streets of knives.

And Labour voted en masse against tougher sentences for child murderers and rapists.

Labour would dismantle our ability to fight crime.

Only the Conservatives will stand up for the police, the victims and the British public.

And there’s one other big change the public want to see.

Too often they see dangerous criminals abusing human rights laws.

In one case, a drug dealer convicted of beating his ex-partner,

A man who hadn’t paid maintenance for his daughter,

Then successfully claimed the right to family life to avoid deportation.

Conference, it is absolutely perverse that someone guilty of domestic abuse …

Could claim the right to family life to trump the public’s interest in deporting him from this country.

We’ve got to bring this nonsense to an end.

So, today I can tell you that, under this Prime Minister and before the next election,

We will overhaul the Human Rights Act

To end this kind of abuse… and restore some common sense to our justice system.

Conference, Labour will fight us all the way.

They’re out of touch, they’ve got no plan.

But we know that it’s our mission as Conservatives:

As we build back better from this pandemic,

To bring criminals to justice,

To give hope to the victims of crime,

And to stand up for the firm but fair, common sense, British justice …

That the people of this country deserve.

The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 5 October 2021.

It is right that the offenders who have damaged their communities should be seen to pay back with their time and some hard graft.

With new projects such as the one run by The Canal & River Trust offenders will learn new skills and do their bit clearing and maintaining our country’s waterways.