Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

David Burrowes Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd June 2015

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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A pilot project to get rid of cautions and defer prosecutions took place in three constituencies during the last Parliament, and it is doing really well at the moment. This is exactly the sort of thing that the hon. Gentleman is talking about. People will know how the offences they have committed affect the community. We can keep them out of prison for low-level offences, but put them in prison for high-level offences.

David Burrowes Portrait Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con)
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Mandatory sentencing with “two strikes and you’re out” has had its impact on burglary. When is the Minister going to get on and implement this mandatory “two strikes and you’re out” policy for knife crime? It was introduced in January, but now we need to ensure that we set a clear implementation date rather than have the latest “as soon as possible” response from the Department.

Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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It is right and proper to pay tribute to Nick de Bois, whose work on knife crime from the Government Benches led to legislation being put on the statute book. My hon. Friend, who knows me well, will know that I intend to implement it as soon as I possibly can.