Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jamie Wallis and Michael Ellis

Thursday 13th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

I do not think Parliament is supine in any context. The reality of the matter is that public legal education provides valuable insight and awareness to young people, in particular, about rights and responsibilities. I do not recognise the characteristic the hon. Gentleman puts on the issue.

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the CPS in prosecuting offences against emergency workers.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the CPS in prosecuting offences against emergency workers.

[The Solicitor General (Michael Ellis)]

The CPS takes offences against emergency service personnel extremely seriously. Between November 2018 and November 2019, the first year of the offence coming into effect, almost 20,000 offences were charged under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018, three quarters of which were assaults by beating; there were 19,771 offences against emergency workers, including 5,362 common assaults. In January, the CPS published a joint agreement with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, NHS England, the National Fire Chiefs Council and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. This shared understanding, and it will ensure that cases continue to be prosecuted and investigated effectively.

[Dr Wallis]

Reports of serious and violent crimes endured by emergency services staff have caused some of my constituents worry and anguish about loved ones who work in this area. What assurances can my right hon. and learned Friend give my constituents that the Government are taking steps to reduce serious and violent crime?

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is right to raise this point. I warn anyone who engages in any type of offence against an emergency service worker that the law will deal with them harshly; the estimated conviction rate, based on the first cases to go through the courts, was 90%. It is right that we see uplifts in sentence for those who assault emergency service workers, who serve the public diligently and courageously.