Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Robert Buckland

Thursday 2nd February 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

The hon. Gentleman will be glad to know that rates of disability hate crime prosecution continue to rise. The rise last year was 41.3%, the conviction rate for hate crime being just over 83%. The total number of hate crimes prosecuted last year was 15,442, which is the highest number to date. I do, of course, take very seriously the helpful and sensible submissions made by the shadow Solicitor General.

[Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)]

What steps is the Department taking to prevent the spread of hate crime by the media?

[The Solicitor General]

As we know, in an age of social media it has become all too easy for perpetrators to spread hate and intimidation. The Crown Prosecution Service takes very seriously offences which cross the line to constitute grossly offensive communications, and prosecutions take place regularly. We will continue to work with social media to ensure that the detection of such crimes can be improved.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Robert Buckland

Thursday 8th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Seema Kennedy]

Can my hon. and learned Friend tell me a bit more about what the Crown Prosecution Service is doing to prosecute this type of offence in the north-west of England?

[The Solicitor General]

I note my hon. Friend’s interest as a north-west MP, and I am happy to tell her that under the new modern slavery offence, eight charges were laid in the north-west region and eight offences in the Mersey-Cheshire region, plus other offences under older legislation, in the past year. Only last month three people were convicted of modern-day slavery and human trafficking in Liverpool and were sentenced to a total of seven years and three months’ imprisonment.