Oral Answers to Questions

Adam Thompson Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Katie White (Leeds North West) (Lab)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle violence against women and girls.

[Adam Thompson (Erewash) (Lab)]

11. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle violence against women and girls.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

14. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle violence against women and girls.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Davies-Jones]

The Government are determined to meet our ambitious target of halving violence against women and girls over the course of a decade. I proudly co-chair our cross-Government working group with the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips), to look at how we can bring every Government Department to the table. This issue is not just for the Ministry of Justice or Home Office to tackle; the onus is on all of us—every Department and all of society—to do better if we are to reach the target.

We have funded a record number of Crown court sitting days to hit the backlog and tackle it head-on. The majority of domestic abuse cases are heard in the magistrates court, and we are determined to do more to reach vulnerable victims.

[Adam Thompson]

May I thank the Minister for her answer, and also extend my thoughts to Joanne’s family and friends?

In recent years, women and girls have increasingly expressed distrust in the ability of the justice system to resolve cases of violence and sexual harassment, as so few of those events result in prosecution. What steps is the Minister taking to restore trust in the justice system, so that my constituents in Erewash know that they have somewhere to turn when they are targeted by such hate crimes?

[Alex Davies-Jones]

As part of this Government’s safer streets mission, we have committed to improving confidence in the police and the criminal justice system. We will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence teams in every police force, as well as domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms. We will also give victims of adult rape access to an independent legal adviser to help them understand and uphold their rights from day one. I want every victim, whether in Erewash or in Pontypridd, to know that they are heard, and that this Government support them.