Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps his Department is taking to prioritise the bringing about of increases to the charging rate for the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour.
Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The introduction of controlling or coercive behaviour as a criminal offence in 2015 marked a fundamental shift in the criminal justice response to abuse, from focusing on individual incidents to recognising patterns of behaviour that entrench control, isolate victims and inflict serious psychological harm.
Controlling or coercive behaviour cases often involve complex patterns of abuse that can be difficult to evidence, especially when victims are traumatised or unable to speak out.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) continues to take action to improve outcomes in these cases, with the number of domestic abuse flagged controlling or coercive behaviour offences charged and reaching a first hearing in the magistrates' court increasing year on year, rising from 763 in 2017 to 6,510 in 2025.
CPS guidance makes clear that prosecutors should actively identify and consider controlling or coercive behaviour offences, recognising the cumulative impact of abusive conduct. Prosecutors are encouraged to charge controlling or coercive behaviour alongside individual incidents where appropriate, ensuring that the full extent of the alleged offending is placed before the court.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 and Question 19848 on Arms Trade: Israel, if she will take steps to centrally record how many people have been charged with offenses relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK's arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Between October 2023 to September 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service charged 142,221 suspects which reached a first hearing at the magistrates’ court. To determine which offences involved defendants who were taking part in a protest against Elbit Systems UK would require a manual review of each case, which would be at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, If she will publish the redacted sections of her Department’s email to Israel’s Deputy Ambassador entitled CPS/SO15 contact details, published in April 2025.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
It has been routine under successive governments for the Attorney General’s Office to help embassies get in contact with the relevant prosecuting authorities for the purposes of sharing information that could be relevant to a case. Freedom of information requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and information is disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, how many people have been charged with alleged offenses relating to protests on arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
From 1 October 2023 to 30 June 2024 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges in respect of 104,696 suspects for all criminal offences. Of these charges, the CPS is unable to identify which offences involved defendants who were taking part in a protest without a manual review of each case which would incur disproportionate cost.
The CPS publishes quarterly bulletins of data tables and summaries of main trends as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency on prosecution performance. This information can be found here: CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, how many people have been charged with offenses relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK's arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
From 1 October 2023 to 30 June 2024 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges in respect of 104,696 suspects for all criminal offences. Of these charges, the CPS is unable to identify which offences involved defendants who were taking part in a protest without a manual review of each case which would incur disproportionate cost.
The CPS publishes quarterly bulletins of data tables and summaries of main trends as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency on prosecution performance. This information can be found here: CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, how many people have been charged with offences relating to protests on climate change in the last year.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
From 1 October 2023 to 30 June 2024 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges in respect of 104,696 suspects for all criminal offences. Of these charges, the CPS is unable to identify which offences involved defendants who were taking part in a protest without a manual review of each case which would incur disproportionate cost.
The CPS publishes quarterly bulletins of data tables and summaries of main trends as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency on prosecution performance. This information can be found here: CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.