Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if he will ensure that the prosecution of cybercrime is prioritised by the CPS.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Cybercrime is one of the Government’s current key threat areas. On 24 November 2016, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published a new strategy statement and legal guidance on Cybercrime to align its prosecution policy with the aims of the UK Cyber Security Strategy and the Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
The CPS works in partnership with law enforcement to pursue and prosecute all cyber criminality referred to it where the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors are met, in line with CPS and National Strategies.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to ensure that courts take account of the content of victims' statements in considering judgments passed on people found guilty of committing crimes.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Victim Personal Statements (VPS) give victims a voice in criminal proceedings, allowing them to express exactly how they were affected by a crime, and helping the offender to understand the harm they caused.
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance states that the prosecutor should ensure that the Court is aware of any VPS prior to sentencing. It should be read out in its entirety unless there is good reason for not doing so, and subject to any decision the court makes in respect of the VPS.
The CPS is chairing a multi-agency working group to address the recommendations of the Victims’ Commissioner’s thematic review of the use of Victim Personal Statements and ensure the victim’s voice is always heard when they wish to be heard.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many people have been convicted of tampering with electric or gas meters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of people who have been prosecuted for, or convicted of, offences of tampering with electric or gas meters. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.