Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Green Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

I agree wholeheartedly. It is very important that substance abuse is properly tackled. Probation services and youth offending teams do a lot of work in that space.

[Sarah Green (Chesham and Amersham) (LD)]

2. What steps she is taking to support survivors of domestic abuse and violence against women through the criminal justice system.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

19. What steps her Department is taking to support victims of domestic abuse.

[Sarah Green]

My constituent was subject to financial, physical and emotional abuse by her ex. She was also cyber-stalked; her social media accounts were hacked for details of her location, and for information about their children. Despite being granted a non-molestation order and a prohibited steps order, she was unable to compile sufficient evidence of the cyber-stalking to be granted a stalking protection order. Speaking to her, her fear is palpable. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that victims are supported in compiling the evidence that they need for a stalking protection order?

[Shabana Mahmood]

I am very sorry to hear of the experiences of the hon. Lady’s constituent; it is clearly a horrifying case, and my sympathies are with her. Given that stalking protection orders are relatively new, there is a case for continually examining whether their roll-out is working as intended. They are primarily a Home Office responsibility, but there are amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is going through the House, that are designed to strengthen these orders. If the hon. Lady will write to me, I will ensure that she has a meeting with the relevant Minister to talk through the specifics of the case that she has raised, and the lessons that can be learned as we strengthen these orders for everyone.