Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Geoffrey Cox and Theresa Villiers

Thursday 1st November 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney General]

I noted carefully the DPP’s concerns on that matter, but the performance and conviction rates of the CPS are the highest they have been in many years, and therefore they show no sign that it is creaking as a consequence of manpower. I think that the DPP was referring to a real challenge that we face, which is the increasing volume of evidence—particularly digital evidence from smartphones and computers—that is placing a real strain on both the police and the CPS. I shall be tackling that shortly in the review I am publishing on disclosure.

[Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)]

10. In taking forward prosecutions for hate crimes, will the Attorney General encourage the CPS to work with the Community Security Trust, which has great expertise in combating antisemitism?

[The Attorney General]

That is an excellent suggestion, and I shall look at it extremely carefully. It sounds like something we need to take forward.