Justice: Private Sector

Debate between Lord Keen of Elie and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate

Tuesday 18th June 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

The noble Lord makes a perfectly valid point. The Government are extending the requirement of the social value Act in central government to ensure that all major procurements explicitly evaluate social value, where appropriate.

[Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, does the noble and learned Lord agree that, in state activity that involves the detention of citizens, such as prisons, policing and some mental institutions, public service should trump private profit?

Family Courts: Domestic Violence

Debate between Lord Keen of Elie and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate

Tuesday 21st May 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

We consider that we have a specialised group of judges operating within the family courts. Having regard to the potential for backlogs, to which the noble Baroness refers, we increased circuit and district judge sittings by 4,000 days in 2018-19 and it is our intention to allocate an additional 6,000 days in 2019-20.

[Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, given that a very large number of homicides start with domestic violence, does the Minister agree that the criminal justice community should treat the early indicators, such as stalking activities, far more seriously?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

My Lords, I believe that the judiciary treat such early signs extremely seriously. Where an instance of domestic abuse comes before the courts, it is recognised that it may be just a beginning that could lead to more serious consequences.

Worboys Case and the Parole Board

Debate between Lord Keen of Elie and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate

Wednesday 28th March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

Well, indeed. I am obliged to the noble Lord for his observations in that regard. As I indicated earlier, it had occurred to my right honourable friend’s predecessor, almost as soon as this matter came to his attention, that Rule 25 really did need to be looked at and given further consideration because of the impact it had on the perception of proceedings. Regarding the proceedings of the Parole Board itself, clearly, there are hundreds of individuals involved and engaged in that process. It is critically important as part of our criminal justice system and it is equally important that it should remain independent of the Executive.

[Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, in my experience, when criminals convicted of serious offences and serving long sentences are released, it is generally to an open prison so that they can be further assessed. Why did this not happen in Worboys’ case?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I am not able to answer that question but the point the noble Lord makes is entirely accurate because, generally speaking, the issues for the Parole Board to consider are, first, whether it should release into an open prison environment and, thereafter, whether there should be release on licence.