All 1 Debates between Dominic Grieve and Marcus Jones

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dominic Grieve and Marcus Jones
Tuesday 9th July 2013

(11 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Marcus Jones Portrait Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con)
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3. What assessment he has made of the level of public understanding of the legal framework applicable to the internet.

Dominic Grieve Portrait The Attorney-General (Mr Dominic Grieve)
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Since taking office, I have brought a number of successful proceedings involving contempts committed online. The Crown Prosecution Service has also prosecuted numerous offenders who have used the internet to commit criminal offences, and recently issued new guidelines to prosecutors on the handling of cases involving social media. Many of those cases have been widely reported in both national and local media, and I trust that they have increased public awareness of the fact that misconduct online has consequences.

Marcus Jones Portrait Mr Jones
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Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that public awareness has been increased by, for example, the successful prosecution of jury members who do not keep to the rules and who research the details of a case during the course of a trial using the internet?

Dominic Grieve Portrait The Attorney-General
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I trust that it has. If we wish to preserve trial by jury, it is extremely important that judges’ directions to juries not to conduct research are properly observed. If they are not, trial by jury will not survive. I have brought a number of cases against jury members; they have been reported, and I hope that as a result of my bringing them, I shall have to bring far fewer in future.