Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether his Department has issued guidance to the (a) police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service on using existing legislation to tackle conversion practices against LGBT People.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The police are the responsibility of the Home Office.
While the Attorney General's Office superintends the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the CPS are operationally independent. The CPS bring prosecutions in line with the Code for Crown prosecutors.
The Attorney General's Office has not issued any guidance to the CPS.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential application of the Offences Against the person Act 1861 in tackling the use of conversion practices with LGBT people.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Law Officers' Convention enables the Attorney General and I to have frank discussions with our Ministerial colleagues.
The Law Officers' Convention means that we cannot disclose whether or not we have advised on a legal issue or whether we will do so in the future.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps she is taking to prosecute individuals charged with fraud by false representation particularly in relation to fraudulent property transactions.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
In March 2021, the CPS launched its first ever Economic Crime Strategy to ensure they keep at pace with the constant changing nature of crime. It is a high-level strategy which allows the flexibility to respond and adapt to new and emerging threats.
The CPS has a dedicated Specialist Fraud Division to ensure it has the right skills and resources to prosecute complex cases.
The CPS also has a Proceeds of Crime unit dedicated to asset recovery and in 2018, the CPS created three new Fraud Centres in CPS Areas to increase capability and resilience in dealing with fraud casework.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if she will examine the length of sentence handed to Sam Pybus under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
Answered by Suella Braverman
My office received a number of referrals to review the sentence in this deeply disturbing case. I agree that the sentence appears too low, and I have referred it to the Court of Appeal to be reviewed. The case will be heard in due course and the Court of Appeal will decide whether to increase the sentence.