Oral Answers to Questions

Roberta Blackman-Woods Excerpts

Tuesday 26th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

2. When he next plans to review the Crown Prosecution Service’s violence against women strategy.

[The Solicitor-General (Mr Edward Garnier)]

The Crown Prosecution Service’s violence against women strategy was published in June 2008. The assessment of the benefits of the strategy on prosecutions for violence against women will be published in the autumn of 2011. Annual reports are also published.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods]

I thank the Solicitor-General for that response. I am sure that he will be aware that Durham CPS piloted the use of specialist services such as domestic violence courts and multi-agency risk assessment conferences to determine appropriate interventions in domestic violence cases. What reassurance can he give the House that those specialist services that have been so successful will continue?

[The Solicitor-General]

May I thank the hon. Lady for visiting her CPS office on 1 October? Her visit was most welcome and I hope that other Members of Parliament will take the same opportunity to visit their local CPS. I can give her the assurance that she seeks. The CPS, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General and I take the aspect of the criminal law that she has just addressed extremely seriously and we will ensure that both the CPS and the wider criminal justice system bear down on reducing the number of offences against women.