Jess Phillips: MoJ: Written Answers (67)

Written Question

Crime: Victims

Monday 27th February 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whom her Department plans to consult for the 12 month review of the working of the Code of Practice for the Victims of Crime.

Answered by Phillip Lee

We have made positive steps to improve the experience of victims, to reduce unnecessary stress and lessen the emotional turmoil of attending court. But we have been clear that more must be done. That is why we will set out our strategy for victims within 12 months, including bringing forward any appropriate legislation.

We are actively considering how compliance with the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) might be improved and monitored. We are also exploring how those responsible for delivery of rights and entitlements might be better held accountable for any failings.

Written Question

Crime: Victims

Monday 27th February 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to collect evidence on the effectiveness of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Answered by Phillip Lee

Written Question

Victims' Panel

Monday 27th February 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to extend the membership of her Department's Victims' Panel.

Answered by Phillip Lee

We want to make sure the needs of victims and witnesses are at the heart of a modern justice system. That is why it is vital we learn as much as possible from the experience of real life victims and survivors of crime.

We have re-established the Victims’ Panel so we can get direct feedback from victims and we are keen to continue and develop their valuable contribution. The Victims’ Panel reconvened on the 6 February 2017.

Written Question

Crime: Victims

Monday 13th February 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases of breaches or failings of the Victims' Code have been received by her Department since 1 January 2017 by (a) text, (b) tweet, (c) e-mail and (d) letter.

Answered by Sam Gyimah

We have made positive steps to improve the experience of victims, to reduce unnecessary stress and lessen the emotional turmoil of attending court. But we have been clear that more must be done. We will set out our strategy for victims within 12 months, and will bring forward any appropriate primary legislation.

We are considering how compliance with the Victims’ Code might be improved and monitored. We are also exploring how those delivering services can be better held to account, and are developing plans to engage victims and victims’ groups for their views.

The Ministry of Justice has no facility to receive text messages. A record of tweets sent to Ministers can be viewed on their public profile. Since the beginning of the year, there has been one letter from an MP whose constituents had concerns about the Code and wanted to share their experiences. We have also received, by email, a report from Voice4Victims.

Written Question

Crime: Victims

Monday 13th February 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training is available for (a) police, (b) probation staff and (c) Crown Prosecution Service staff on the nature of and compliance with the Victims' Code.

Answered by Sam Gyimah

It is important that we make sure criminal justice agency staff are appropriately trained to deliver victims their rights.

The College of Policing sets and maintains national learning standards to support and drive national consistency in honouring the commitments of the Police service to the Victims’ Code. However Forces are autonomous as to ‘how’ training is delivered and undertaken locally. The College recently re-launched the Victims’ Code electronic package, available to all Police Officers and staff.

Probation Service Officer and Probation Officer training includes e-learning about how victim issues and information should be addressed in parole reports and liaison between Victim Liaison Officers and Offender Managers in recall cases. Skills development training for Victim Liaison Officers was delivered between September 2014 and March 2016, focused on work with victims within the parameters of the Victim Contact Scheme.

All CPS staff who attend court have been given a day’s worth of face to face training on the new Speaking to Witnesses at Court Guidance and how to interact with victims and witnesses at court without undermining the fairness of the trial. This is supported by a comprehensive package of e-learning, which barristers who appear for the CPS in court are expected to complete. In addition, all staff in CPS Victim Liaison Units are trained regarding timely and good quality communications to victims.

We are considering how compliance with the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) might be improved and monitored. Plans to engage with and obtain the views of victims and victims’ groups and criminal justice agencies are being developed

Written Question

Family Courts: Domestic Abuse

Wednesday 18th January 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for her Department's review into the most effective means of banning perpetrators of domestic abuse from directly cross-examining their victims within the family court system.

Answered by Oliver Heald

We wish to act urgently and are keen to conclude this work as quickly as possible.

Written Question

Family Courts: Domestic Abuse

Wednesday 18th January 2017

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the contribution of 9 January 2017, Official Report, column 27, what plans her Department has to consult with (a) Women's Aid and (b) survivors of domestic abuse on the ancillary measures required to implement a ban on perpetrators of domestic abuse from directly cross-examining their victims within the family court.

Answered by Oliver Heald

The Government has listened to Women’s Aid and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence who have raised their concerns about this practice. As I made clear in the House of Commons on 9 January, we are determined to improve the family justice response to vulnerable witnesses, and victims of domestic abuse in particular. Family judges have a range of powers to make sure difficult courtroom situations are handled sensitively for vulnerable witnesses, and we continue to work with the judiciary to consider what additional protections may be necessary. We are particularly concerned about the fact that unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can directly cross-examine their alleged victims in family proceedings. The Justice Secretary is urgently considering how to put an end to this practice.

Written Question

Tribunals: Pupil Exclusions

Friday 22nd April 2016

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals against school exclusion were heard at the First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disabilities) in each year since 2010.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

Information about the number of appeals (a) heard against school exclusion and (b) how many were found in favour of the appellant is published by the Ministry of Justice in the Tribunals and Gender Recognition Statistics Quarterly. The most recent statistics for the First-tier Tribunal SEND are for the period 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015, published on 10 December 2015, which can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015.

These statistics cover the years 2011/12 to 2014/15.

The statistics for earlier years can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/385777/sen-tables-2014.xls.

Written Question

Tribunals: Pupil Exclusions

Friday 22nd April 2016

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals against school exclusions at the First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disabilities) were upheld in each year since 2010.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015.

These statistics cover the years 2011/12 to 2014/15.

The statistics for earlier years can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/385777/sen-tables-2014.xls.

Written Question

Sexual Offences: Children and Young People

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) between 16 to 18 and (c) between 18 to 25 have been (i) tried and (ii) convicted of a sexual offence in each year since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner

The information requested in respect of individuals tried and convicted for violent offences in their own home could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Youth offending has been falling since 2010. Compared to the year ending March 2010, in the year ending March 2015 there were 67% fewer first-time entrants to the youth justice system. However, reoffending rates are far too high and the care and supervision of young offenders in custody us not good enough. That is why the Justice Secretary has asked Charlie Taylor to conduct a review of youth justice. He will report back later this year with recommendations on how to improve the treatment of young people in our care.

Table 1 below shows the latest available data on the number of defendants, in the requested age groups, proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts of exposure in England and Wales.

Table 2 below shows the latest available data on the number of defendants, in the requested age groups, proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for offences relating to harassment in England and Wales.

Table 3 below shows the latest available data on the number of defendants, in the requested age groups, found guilty at all courts for offences relating to harassment in England and Wales.

Table 4 below shows the latest available data on the number of defendants, in the requested age groups, proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts of sexual offences in England and Wales.

Court proceedings data for 2015 is planned for publication in May 2016.

Table 1: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of exposure ⁽¹⁾, England and Wales, 2010 to 2014 ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾

Outcome

Age group

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Proceeded against

10 to 15

16 to 17

18 to 25

203

190

151

187

212

All 25 and under

277

244

195

232

250

Found guilty

10 to 15

16 to 17

18 to 25

143

134

123

131

162

All 25 and under

201

174

157

155

189

(1) An offence under S66 Sexual Offences Act 2003

(2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to harassment⁽¹⁾, by selected age, England and Wales, 2010-2014⁽²⁾⁽³⁾

Year	10 to 15	16 to 17	18 to 25	Total

2010	2,190	3,306	12,096	17,592

2011	1,505	2,518	10,208	14,231

2012	968	1,499	7,912	10,379

2013	716	1,204	7,237	9,157

2014	574	1,065	6,207	7,846



(1) It includes the following offences, published on the MoJ website at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014
125A Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - summary
8.12 Racially or religiously aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress
8.14 Racially or religiously aggravated offence of harassment
125A Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - summary
125C Causing harassment, alarm or distress - summary
125D Racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress - summary
195 Protection from Harassment Act 1997 S.2 - Summary offence of harassment
196 Pursue course of conduct in breach of prohibition of harassment, which amounts to stalking
8.08 Breach of the conditions of an injunction against harassment
8.09 Other harassment - Putting people in fear of violence
8.12 Racially or religiously aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress
8.14 Racially or religiously aggravated offence of harassment
8.13 Racially or religiously aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - words or writing

(2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Table 3: Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to harassment⁽¹⁾, by selected age, England and Wales, 2010-2014^(2)(3)(4)

Year

10 to 15

16 to 17

18 to 25

Total

2010

1,544

2,357

9,808

13,709

2011

1,021

1,814

8,281

11,116

2012

663

1,074

6,302

8,039

2013

431

810

5,736

6,977

2014

357

723

4,903

5,983

(1) It includes the following offences, published on the MoJ website at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014

125A Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - summary

8.12 Racially or religiously aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress

8.14 Racially or religiously aggravated offence of harassment

125A Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - summary

125C Causing harassment, alarm or distress - summary

125D Racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress - summary

195 Protection from Harassment Act 1997 S.2 - Summary offence of harassment

196 Pursue course of conduct in breach of prohibition of harassment, which amounts to stalking

8.08 Breach of the conditions of an injunction against harassment

8.09 Other harassment - Putting people in fear of violence

8.12 Racially or religiously aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress

8.14 Racially or religiously aggravated offence of harassment

8.13 Racially or religiously aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - words or writing

(2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(4) Defendants proceeded against in one year may not have their final “case outcome” (i.e. found guilty or acquitted) in the same year (e.g. a case may be committed for trial at the Crown Court).

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Table 4: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of sexual offences, England and Wales, 2010 to 2014 ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Outcome	Age group	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014

Proceeded against	10 to 15	505	439	283	368	341
	16 to 17	485	436	389	379	445
	18 to 25	2,363	2,251	2,184	2,267	2,576
	Total	3,353	3,126	2,856	3,014	3,362

Found guilty	10 to 15	310	244	173	194	193
	16 to 17	287	259	245	214	245
	18 to 25	1,225	1,321	1,209	1,178	1,304
	Total	1,822	1,824	1,627	1,586	1,742

(1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

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