Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what meetings he has had with the (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) the police in relation to the recommendations in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's report entitled A Thematic Rape Inspection Report: An inspection of early advice and pre-charge decision making in adult rape cases, published on 15 July 2025.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has accepted all eight recommendations set out in His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s (HMCPSI) report, along with the implementation timeframe proposed by the Inspectorate. The CPS full response to the report is published on its public website and includes the projected implementation date for each recommendation. The latest of these dates is July 2026: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/crown-prosecution-service-response-hmcpsi-inspection-early-advice-and-pre-charge.

Following his recent appointment as Secretary of State for Justice, the Deputy Prime Minister looks forward to meeting with the Attorney General, the CPS and the police, to discuss their progress on implementing the recommendations made in the HMCPSI report.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 75145 on Rape: Criminal Proceedings, by what date his Department plans to implement the recommendations of the HMCPSI report.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has accepted all eight recommendations set out in His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s (HMCPSI) report, along with the implementation timeframe proposed by the Inspectorate. The CPS full response to the report is published on its public website and includes the projected implementation date for each recommendation. The latest of these dates is July 2026: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/crown-prosecution-service-response-hmcpsi-inspection-early-advice-and-pre-charge.

Following his recent appointment as Secretary of State for Justice, the Deputy Prime Minister looks forward to meeting with the Attorney General, the CPS and the police, to discuss their progress on implementing the recommendations made in the HMCPSI report.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he next plans to meet with representatives of the Council of Europe to discuss reform of the ECHR.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Deputy Prime Minister has already reached out to a number of European member States and will also be holding meetings with Council of Europe representatives, to discuss reform. Governments across Europe face the same pressures as us and conversations on reform are necessary to ensure the Convention remains strong and relevant.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have committed three separate offences within three months and not received a custodial sentence, in each of the last three years.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously and we are determined to ensure that the criminal justice system has the right tools to deal with them.

We are expanding the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the causes of prolific offending. We know these problem-solving approaches cut crime, with a 33 percent decrease in the rate of arrests compared to offenders who receive standard sentences. We are also introducing new orders to hit offenders where it hurts – limiting their freedoms in the community and ensuring punishment outside of prison does exactly that. These will include banning offenders from attending pubs, bars and clubs, as well as public events such as football matches and concerts.

For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute. Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions.

The information requested is provided in the tables attached and includes further notes.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people with five or more previous convictions were convicted of shoplifting and avoided a custodial sentence in the last 12 months.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously and we are determined to ensure that the criminal justice system has the right tools to deal with them.

We are expanding the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the causes of prolific offending. We know these problem-solving approaches cut crime, with a 33 percent decrease in the rate of arrests compared to offenders who receive standard sentences. We are also introducing new orders to hit offenders where it hurts – limiting their freedoms in the community and ensuring punishment outside of prison does exactly that. These will include banning offenders from attending pubs, bars and clubs, as well as public events such as football matches and concerts.

For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute. Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions.

The information requested is provided in the tables attached and includes further notes.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the longest projected length of time between charge and trial in a single case of sexual assault which is yet to be heard in court.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.

The Ministry of Justice publishes end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for sexual offences, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the average projected length of time between charge and trial in cases of sexual assault which are yet to be heard in court.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.

The Ministry of Justice publishes end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for sexual offences, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his planned timetable is for reducing the Crown Court backlog in absolute terms.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog. The last government promised to reduce the Crown Court backlog to 53,000 by March 2025. Instead, the backlog increased to 76,957 by March 2025.

We have taken immediate action including funding a record-high allocation of 110,000 Crown Court sitting days this financial year to mitigate the backlog. We committed to investing up to £92 million more a year in criminal legal aid solicitors and boosted Magistrates’ sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months.

However, such steps can only mitigate the growth of the backlog. More fundamental reform is necessary to see the backlog reduce in absolute terms. That is why the Government asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose once-in-a-generation reform that will improve timeliness in the courts and deliver swifter justice for victims.  We are committed to creating a more stable and sustainable criminal justice system, in which victims and the public can have confidence.

Part one of the Independent Review of Criminal Courts has been published. We are considering Sir Brian’s proposals and will publish a government response in short order . Part two of the Review, considering how the criminal courts can operate as efficiently as possible, is expected to be finalised later this year. We intend to introduce legislation in the second session as soon as parliamentary time allows to implement the necessary reforms.

Conduct of the Hon. Mr Justice Jay

Found: these cohorts immediately attracted political controversy, with the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick

Found: these cohorts immediately attracted political controversy, with the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick