First elected: 9th April 1992
Left House: 30th March 2015 (Retired)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Elfyn Llwyd, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Elfyn Llwyd has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Elfyn Llwyd has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
A Bill to establish a framework for victims of crime; to provide for the training of criminal justice staff on the impact of crime on victims; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision for the investigation of allegations of domestic violence, for duties on the police in respect of domestic violence, for risk assessment and training in connection with related criminal proceedings in England and Wales; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision requiring certain prisoners due to be considered for early release to complete a relevant offender management programme, where available; to require courts to take regard of mental health problems in sentencing; to make provision regarding minimum and maximum sentences; and for connected purposes
Elfyn Llwyd has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)’s Victims’ Right to Review scheme came into effect on 5 June 2013. Between the date the scheme commenced and 31 December 2014, the CPS has reviewed 2,423 appeals of which 315 (13.0%) were upheld.
The number of decisions overturned represents a very small fraction of all the decisions made by CPS lawyers. During the period from 1 June 2013 to 31 December 2014, the CPS finalised 198,786 cases with a qualifying decision. This means that approximately 0.16% of cases that would qualify under the scheme resulted in an upheld Appeal.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)’s Victims’ Right to Review scheme came into effect on 5 June 2013. Between the date the scheme commenced and 31 December 2014, the CPS has reviewed 2,423 appeals of which 315 (13.0%) were upheld.
The number of decisions overturned represents a very small fraction of all the decisions made by CPS lawyers. During the period from 1 June 2013 to 31 December 2014, the CPS finalised 198,786 cases with a qualifying decision. This means that approximately 0.16% of cases that would qualify under the scheme resulted in an upheld Appeal.
The joint police/Crown Prosecution Service Witness Care Units are responsible for updating victims on the progress of their case. This includes informing victims of hearing outcomes, and, in any case which cannot be listed within the usual timescales, providing them, where known, with relevant information about why the delay has occurred.
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (the Victims’ Code) sets out the services to be provided to victims of crime. Under the Victims’ Code, victims are entitled to be informed of the date, location and outcome of any criminal court hearings in the case by their Witness Care Unit or by the police where they act as a single point of contact for victims. This information must be provided within 1 working day of the Witness Care Unit receiving it from the court. Where victims are due to attend court as a witness they are entitled wherever possible, to receive an explanation from the Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor or representative if there is a delay in proceedings on the day and how long the wait is likely to be.
The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of prosecutions dropped as a result of delays in receiving data from social media companies or from the forensic examination of computers or mobile phones. Obtaining this information would require a manual review of individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a separate record of the number of people charged and prosecuted for stalking under sections (a) 2A and (b) 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 who could not have been charged for harassment using sections (i) 2 and (ii) 4.
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 does not provide a definitive list of behaviors that would allow for a prosecution for either harassment or stalking and CPS prosecutors determine the most appropriate charges in any given prosecution based on the facts of the case.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has developed two online e-Learning courses on all types of stalking. The “Cyber Crime: Cyber Stalking” course includes cyber stalking, non-cyber stalking and harassment. The “Stalking and Harassment” course (which was released in April 2014) deals specifically with stalking and harassment offences. The CPS maintains a central record of the number of prosecutors who have been trained to deal with stalking and harassment offences by way of the e-Learning courses.
The data covers the period 1 November 2012 (the month when the Cyber Stalking e-Learning module was revised to include the new stalking offences) to 21 October 2014 and is in relation to solicitors and barristers with practising certificates. The data includes only those lawyers who have completed all elements of either the Cyber Stalking or Stalking and harassment e-Learning courses.
The numbers of staff who have completed the training are lower than those given in answers to previous Parliamentary Questions as a result of staff moves, career breaks and departures in the wider context of a reducing staff headcount. The CPS continues to train staff to deal with stalking and harassment offences on an ongoing basis.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of people charged and prosecuted, however it is not possible to identify the numbers of individuals prosecuted for offences charged under specific pieces of legislation.
Figures are only held for the number of offences charged under sections 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in cases finalised by the CPS. It is not possible to identify the number of currently active proceedings in the courts involving charges under any specific pieces of legislation.
The CPS maintains a central record of the number of offences charged, not defendants prosecuted, under sections 2A and 4A of the 1997 Act. A single defendant may be prosecuted for multiple offences.
The attached tables detail the number of offences charged under S.4A(1)(a)(b)(i) and S.4A(1)(a)(b)(ii) by each police force in England and Wales, and the number of offences charged under 2A(1) of the 1997 Act by each police force in England and Wales.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of people charged and prosecuted, however it is not possible to identify the numbers of individuals prosecuted for offences charged under specific pieces of legislation.
Figures are only held for the number of offences charged under sections 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in cases finalised by the CPS. It is not possible to identify the number of currently active proceedings in the courts involving charges under any specific pieces of legislation.
The CPS maintains a central record of the number of offences charged, not defendants prosecuted, under sections 2A and 4A of the 1997 Act. A single defendant may be prosecuted for multiple offences.
The attached tables detail the number of offences charged under S.4A(1)(a)(b)(i) and S.4A(1)(a)(b)(ii) by each police force in England and Wales, and the number of offences charged under 2A(1) of the 1997 Act by each police force in England and Wales.
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 came into effect on 25 November 2012 and introduced two new offences of stalking into the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 under S2A and S4A. A table showing the number of offences charged and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) under sections 2A and 4A that reached a first hearing in a magistrates' court since these sections came into force has been deposited in the Library of the House. The data provided only shows the number of offences, not the number of people charged.
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 came into effect on 25 November 2012 and introduced two new offences of stalking into the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 under S2A and S4A. A table showing the number of offences charged and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) under sections 2A and 4A that reached a first hearing in a magistrates' court since these sections came into force has been deposited in the Library of the House. The data provided only shows the number of offences, not the number of people charged.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)has developed two online e-Learning courses on all types of stalking. The “Cyber Crime: Cyber Stalking” course includes cyber stalking, non-cyber stalking and harassment. The “Stalking and Harassment” course (which was released in April 2014) deals specifically with stalking and harassment offences, with emphasis on building a strong case, working closely with the police, appropriate charge selection, and engaging with victims throughout the legal process. The CPS maintains a central record of the number of prosecutors who have been trained to deal with stalking and harassment offences by way of the e-Learning courses.
The following data was extracted from the CPS HR Database and the online Prosecution College Database on 11 June 2014. The data is based on those barristers or solicitors who held a practising certificate in the relevant period and were employed by the CPS on 11 June 2014. The data covers the period 1 November 2012 (the month when the Cyber Stalking e-Learning module was revised to include the new stalking offences) to 11 June 2014.The data includes only those lawyers who have completed either the Cyber Stalking or Stalking and harassment e-Learning courses, including the evaluation modules, as the database records e-Learning based on completion of all elements of the course.
CPS Cyber Stalking and CPS Stalking & Harassment Completions: Lawyers by CPS Area:
Group | Area | Completions |
Casework Divisions |
| 99 |
Head Quarters |
| 15 |
National Areas | CPS Direct | 268 |
| East Midlands | 91 |
| East of England | 81 |
| London | 195 |
| Merseyside & Cheshire | 36 |
| North East | 72 |
| North West | 121 |
| South East | 50 |
| South West | 41 |
| Thames & Chiltern | 115 |
| Wales / Cymru | 65 |
| Wessex | 28 |
| West Midlands | 55 |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 108 |
| POCU | 7 |
Grand Total |
| 1,447 |
The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of particular offences that are currently active in either magistrates' or crown courts in England and Wales.
The CPS case management system does however record the number of finalised cases which reached a first hearing in the magistrates' court as follows:
2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | ||
Protection from Harassment Act 1997 { 4A(1)(a)(b)(i) and (5) } | Stalking involving fear of violence | 9 | 65 |
Protection from Harassment Act 1997 { 4A(1)(a)(b)(ii) and (5) } | Stalking involving serious alarm / distress | 10 | 149 |
Protection from Harassment Act 1997 { 2A(1) and (4) } | Stalking | 72 | 529 |
There is no indication of final outcome or if the offence charged was the offence at finalisation.
The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of particular offences that are currently active in either magistrates' or crown courts in England and Wales.
The CPS case management system does however record the number of finalised cases which reached a first hearing in the magistrates' court as follows:
2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | ||
Protection from Harassment Act 1997 { 4A(1)(a)(b)(i) and (5) } | Stalking involving fear of violence | 9 | 65 |
Protection from Harassment Act 1997 { 4A(1)(a)(b)(ii) and (5) } | Stalking involving serious alarm / distress | 10 | 149 |
Protection from Harassment Act 1997 { 2A(1) and (4) } | Stalking | 72 | 529 |
There is no indication of final outcome or if the offence charged was the offence at finalisation.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of Government. Timing of the delivery of its report to the Prime Minister is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government’s statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children', is clear that anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare should make a referral to local authority children’s social care. If there is an immediate risk to a child, a referral should also be made to the police.
On 3 March 2015, the Government published ‘Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation’ which sets out how we are tackling child sexual exploitation and is available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-child-sexual-exploitation--2. This includes updating the statutory guidance which will reinforce what action practitioners should take if they are concerned about a child. We will also be consulting on an extension to the new ‘wilful neglect’ offence to cover children’s social care, education and elected members. This will be included in the consultation on mandatory reporting of child abuse, which we have publically committed to undertaking.
No reliable estimate has been possible for the total revenue from VAT levied on e-books in each of the last three years. HMRC estimates that additional revenues as a result of the change to the VAT place of supply rules for telecommunications, broadcasting and e-services for years 2014-15 and 2015-16 will be £70m and £300m respectively.
The table shows the total number of complaint cases recorded against all Home
Office Police Forces and the British Transport Police from 2009/10 – 2013/14
(data is from the Independent Police Complaints Commission). Data is not
collected on whether the complainant in each case is a victim of crime.
Full statistics on police complaints are published by the Independent Police
Complaints Commission on its website; this includes a breakdown of the number
of complaints by police force: www.ipcc.gov.uk
The Home Office does not collect data on the number of complaints made against
the Crown Prosecution Service.
*The definition of a complaint was broadened from this point onwards to include direction and control (applies to complaints received on or after 22 November 2012). | ||||||||||||
I refer the Honourable Member to my previous answer on this issue, given on 9 February to written question 222927.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales provides comprehensive data on the nature of domestic violence and abuse, and there is now a widespread understanding that domestic abuse is not just about violence. In recognition of this, in March 2013, we expanded the Government’s non-statutory definition of domestic violence and abuse to capture coercive and controlling behaviour.
In 2014, we consulted on whether the legal framework to protect victims of domestic abuse should be strengthened, recognising that coercive and controlling behaviour can be harder to recognise but can have an equally devastating impact on its victims. The majority of respondents to the consultation agreed that there is a gap in the law, and we are now legislating to close this gap. A summary of the evidence collected from the consultation is published at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-law-on-domestic-abuse
We are committed to improving the way data on domestic abuse including coercive and controlling behaviour is collected. New guidelines have been issued to the police on collecting domestic abuse data against a clear national standard. We are also developing a reliable and safe model for surveying victims of domestic abuse.
The Home Office receives information on the number of domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police. Information is not received on the number of complaints received. The latest available statistics show that the police recorded 755,354 domestic abuse incidents in 2010/11, 817,522 incidents in 2011/12 and 838,026 incidents in 2012/13.
The increase in domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police over this time period is thought to reflect improvements in the identification and recording of these incidents by the police.
The domestic abuse incident collection covers both physical and non-physical abuse, but it is not possible from these data to indentify how many cases included an element of coercive control.
The 2013/14 data will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 12 February 2015.
The College of Policing is responsible for issuing guidance to the police on training and investigations. At the request of the National Policing Lead for Cyber Crime (DCC Peter Goodman) the College of Policing is in the process of
developing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on cyber crime, which will be focused on cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crime (as defined in the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy).
The Government is investing £860 million over five years through the National Cyber Security Programme to respond to the threat posed by cyber and online crime. Of this, approximately 10% is being invested in building law enforcement
capabilities to tackle cyber crime. This has been used to build capability at the national, regional, and local level, including delivering training in cyber crime to officers in local police forces.
This is not data that is stored centrally by the Home Office. The time taken to forensically examine either a mobile telephone or computer will vary considerably dependant on the material being examined. The resourcing of
forensic examination is something that is determined locally by forces.
This is not data that is stored centrally by the Home Office. The time taken to forensically examine either a mobile telephone or computer will vary considerably dependant on the material being examined. The resourcing of
forensic examination is something that is determined locally by forces.
Investigatory powers, including interception, communications data and surveillance, are fundamental to investigating crime, safeguarding national security and protecting the public. The use of these powers is subject to
stringent safeguards and is primarily regulated by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
The Interception of Communications Commissioner provides robust, independent oversight of the use of interception and communications data and provides reports to the Prime Minister, which are published and laid in Parliament.
These reports includes statistics on public authorities’ use of interception and communications data powers, and his 2013 report contained more statistics than ever before.
It would not be appropriate to provide further details about the companies to which requests have been made, and their responses to such requests, as this would damage national security and efforts to fight serious crime.
The College of Policing sets standards and provides relevant training products and services to police forces. This includes a College of Policing training package on stalking which has been completed 56,748 times between October 2012 and 30 September 2014 by police officers and staff in England and Wales.
The Home Office does not hold information which breaks this figure down by police officers and staff for each police area in England and Wales.
The Coalition Government is committed to protecting victims of stalking, which is why we introduced two new stalking offences in 2012. While we have no current plans to legislate further on this issue, we will continue to keep the legal framework under review.
Convicted stalkers are already captured on the Police National Computer. We need to make better use of existing databases and improve connectivity and information sharing rather than creating new databases or registers for each and every offence. We are working with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to raise awareness and improve professional knowledge. Since October 2012 the College of Policing training package on investigating stalking effectively has been completed over 56,000 times by police. Over 1,500 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) staff have completed training in stalking.
In addition, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group to ensure recommendations from HMIC’s Review into domestic abuse are acted upon. This includes work to improve data collection and data sharing on serial abusers.
The College of Policing sets standards and provides relevant training products and services to police forces. The College of Policing training package on
stalking has been completed 52,176 times between October 2012 and 31 May 2014 by police officers and staff in England and Wales.
The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of police staff in each police area in England and Wales who have received training.
The National Crime Recording Standard sets out that in all cases where a victim reports an allegation of a crime of stalking, the police must register an incident and once that report is confirmed as a crime they must then record it as such. Stalking is a serious crime and in recognition of this in April this year the Government established a specific stalking classification in the Home Office Counting Rules to provide improved data and transparency.
This question relates to the disclosure of sensitive information in the civil courts, where robust measures are already in place.
Judges have the power to order non disclosure of details, to have cases heard in private or evidence given via video link or from behind a screen, and to make other orders as necessary to preserve the address or other personal details of a victim of domestic abuse, harassment or stalking. For this to happen it is important that the victim brings any issues to the attention of the judge at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate care can be taken throughout the case.
More broadly, in its 2014 Action Plan, A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls, the Government has committed to develop a code of practice to ensure “safe addresses” and other personal information about the identity and whereabouts of victims of domestic and sexual violence are properly protected.
This Government is committed to ensuring that victims of crime have access to high-quality, effective and timely support to help them cope and, as far as possible, recover from the effects of crime. The Ministry of Justice has made more money than ever before available for this purpose, increasing the contribution offenders make to the costs of providing support and have more than doubled the budget under this Government to over £92million for 2015/16.
Locally accountable Police and Crime Commissioners are now responsible for the provision of support services in their areas and will receive the bulk of the available MoJ funding with which to do so. This is £63.15m in 2015/16.
Some services remain nationally commissioned. This includes support for families bereaved by homicide, support for victims of rape and modern slavery (jointly funded with the Home Office), and support for witnesses at court. National services have recently been competitively re-commissioned.
This Government is committed to putting victims and witnesses first, and we are reforming our system to make it so. This includes more than doubling funding to help victims since we came to power — reaching over £92million next year (2015/16) — to make sure victims receive the best possible support.
A unified administrative complaints procedure for HM Courts & Tribunals Service was launched in October 2011 which introduced a new set of categories and sub categories for recording details of complaints, including from victims. I am unable to provide data on complaints from victims before October 2011.
Data extracted on 4 March 2015 shows the numbers of complaints made by victims to HM Courts & Tribunals Service:
Period | Complaints from victims to HMCTS |
Oct 2011 to March 2012 | 64 |
April 2012 to March 2013 | 96 |
April 2013 to March 2014 | 146 |
April 2014 to February 2015 | 147 |
The National Offender Management Service does not currently record information centrally in relation to the number of complaints received from victims, and has not made an estimate of this number. Systems are being developed that will record complaints at a national level.
Notes:
1. Data for criminal cases disposed of in magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court are published in Criminal Courts Statistics Quarterly at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-court-statistics .
2. The methodology for calculating magistrates’ court receipts was changed from April 2012. Data prior to this period is not comparable.
3. The latest data published is up to September 2014. Data to December 2014 will be published on 26 March 2015.
Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not record the number of applications to the civil and family courts which are deemed to be vexatious. However, HMCTS does record the number of ‘totally without merit’ orders that are made following an application being deemed as totally without merit. The data provided in this answer relates to orders made when applications are deemed to be totally without merit.
HMCTS maintains a national database which lists all civil and family totally without merit orders. The retention period for entries on the database is three years and therefore only data relating to this period is set out in the table below. In addition, the orders may relate to multiple applications and therefore the volume of orders will not necessarily represent the number of applications received by HMCTS.
Table One: Totally without merit orders made in the last three years[1]
Time period | Number of Totally Without Merit Orders made |
1 March 2012 – 28 February 2013 | 2080 |
1 March 2013 – 28 February 2014 | 3004 |
1 March 2014 – 28 February 2015 | 1495 |
HMCTS does not record the number of victims that have reported vexatious applications or the nature of proceedings, including whether they relate to stalking or harassment. In order to provide the information HMCTS would have to manually review each file that relates to stalking and harassment claims. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
[1] This data is internal HMCTS management information and it is not subject to the same level of checking as Official Statistics.
This Government is committed to putting victims and witnesses first, significantly improving services and support for victims and investing more than ever in the help they are offered. In 2012/13 the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provided £50.26m to victim’s services and £57.02m in 2013/14. This will reach over £92 million in the next financial year (2015/16).
The MoJ funds a large number of organisations, including registered charities, voluntary and community groups who each complete regular monitoring returns. It would incur disproportionate costs to consolidate each organisation’s monitoring returns for 2013 and 2014 and disclose how many victims of crime were supported.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington on 2 March 2015. This can be found on the Parliament.uk website here:
This Government is committed to putting victims and witnesses first, significantly improving services and support for victims and investing more than ever in the help they are offered. In 2012/13 the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provided £50.26m to victim’s services and £57.02m in 2013/14. This will reach over £92 million in the next financial year (2015/16).
The MoJ funds a large number of organisations, including registered charities, voluntary and community groups who each complete regular monitoring returns. It would incur disproportionate costs to consolidate each organisation’s monitoring returns for 2013 and 2014 and disclose how many victims of crime were supported.
This Government is committed to ensuring vulnerable victims and witnesses have access to high quality, effective and timely support.
The value of pre-trial ground rules is increasingly being recognised and closely links with measures that my Department is implementing to improve the experience of victims and witnesses. These include giving greater opportunity to give evidence away from the court room and, subject to evaluation of the pilot, roll-out of recorded pre-trial cross-examination.
In reviewing how to reduce the distress experienced by vulnerable victims and witnesses in sexual violence cases tried in the Crown Court, we identified that the scope and use of Ground Rules Hearings could be widened.
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has agreed amendments to the criminal procedure rules which will encourage use of ground rules to facilitate participation of witnesses (including defendants) in trials. These changes take effect from 6 April 2015. The rules will provide that directions can be given for the appropriate treatment and questioning of a witness, especially where the court directs that such questioning is to be conducted through an intermediary, and list things the court should do where directions for appropriate treatment and questioning are required.
We published a new Victims’ Code in December 2013 which sets out in plain language what support and information people should expect from the moment they report a crime to the end of a trial and beyond and who to demand help from if they are not receiving it. Significantly, for the first time it entitles victims and bereaved relatives to ask to read out their Victim Personal Statement (VPS) to the court before an offender is sentenced. This gives them the opportunity to explain in their own words how the crime has affected them and their family.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service does not record information in relation to the number and proportion of cases in which victim personal statements are submitted in criminal proceedings. The Government has made a commitment to monitor criminal justice agencies’ compliance with the Victims’ Code and in Our Commitment to Victims, published on 15 September 2014, we announced that criminal justice agencies will publish information on how they have improved services for victims by April 2015.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service’s regional structure encourages staff to review and improve internal processes and communication. This promotes the sharing of information and best practice across the three jurisdictions. Internal communications channels ensure that staff in all jurisdictions receive and share the same information.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service is committed to providing an efficient and effective service to users at all of its courts and tribunals.
The Government pledged in “Our Commitment to Victims” to ensure that victims’ needs are at the forefront of our plans to modernise the courts.
In particular, the Government implemented a new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime on 10th December 2013. The Victims’ Code outlines the minimum entitlements every victim of crime must expect to receive from Criminal Justice System partners.
I refer the right hon Member to the reply given to the hon Member for Hayes and Harlington on 27 February (PQ224446), which can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=QuestionsWithAnswersOnly&house=commons%2clords&use-dates=True&answered-from=2015-02-27&answered-to=2015-02-27&uin=224446.
Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has two separate case management systems, LIBRA in the magistrates’ courts, and CREST in the Crown Court. The date of charge and date of trial are recorded in LIBRA, but the date of charge is not always recorded on CREST. Also, as a number of cases charged during this period are yet to enter a plea, it is not possible to identify how many will have a trial, or at what point. A number of offences charged during 2014 will not yet have reached six or twelve months since receipt by HMCTS.
The Ministry of Justice does, however, publish official statistics on the timeliness of criminal cases in Criminal Courts Statistics Quarterly at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-court-statistics.
The Government pledged in “Our Commitment to Victims” to consider the needs of victims and witnesses as we reform the court system. This will include upgrading facilities such as separate waiting areas.
All Crown Court Centres have separate waiting facilities for victims and witnesses.
97% of magistrates’ courts have some kind of separate witness waiting facility.[1] For those courts that do not have this facility, special arrangements are put in place with advance notice.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service uses information about victims and witnesses in criminal cases to ensure that individual trials are managed effectively and victims and witnesses are not kept waiting around unnecessarily to give their evidence. We do not, however, hold data on the number of victims and witnesses choosing to use the discrete waiting areas.
[1] Her Majesty’s Court Service Annual Report and Accounts 2009-2010
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/hmcs/annual-reports/HMCS-Annual-Report2009-2010-web.pdf?type=Finjan-Download&slot=000000A2&id=000000A1&location=0A64020C
The Government is committed to ensuring that good quality, victim-focused restorative justice is available at all stages of the criminal justice system so that, where appropriate, victims can access it at a time that is right for them.
The Government has provided funding to Police and Crime Commissioners to build capacity and capability and commission restorative justice services for victims as part of the wider grant for victim services.
Information about the numbers of victims who access restorative justice services is not collated centrally.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington on 2 March 2015. This can be found on the Parliament.uk website here: