Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, what recent steps she has taken to help increase prosecution rates for knife crime.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This Government is committed to halving knife crime in the next decade as set out in our Safer Streets Mission.
The number of cases that the CPS prosecuted for possession of a knife under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and Prevention of Crime Act 1953 has risen from 26,500 (2022-2023) to 27,818 (2023-2024).
The Crime and Policing Bill introduces several knife crime specific measures including a new offence of possession of a knife or offensive weapon with intent to use it for violence; and increasing the maximum penalties for offences relating to the sale and possession of offensive weapons from six months to two years imprisonment. We will also give police power to seize and destroy knifes that they suspect will be used for violence.
Additionally, the Government has set up a national taskforce with policing leaders, which the CPS is supporting. This taskforce is exploring actions to prevent, tackle and reduce knife enabled robbery.
The Government is also acting to address the deadly cycle of knife crime by getting more dangerous weapons off our streets and preventing young people from being drawn into violent crime in the first place, with a radical new Young Futures prevention programme and early intervention for those at-risk. Working with our criminal justice partners, we will also introduce tough consequences for youths caught with knives, including more referrals to Youth Offending Teams.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of cases involving use of offensive weapons in Slough.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This Government’s priority is to keep our streets safe, that is why we have committed to halve knife crime in a decade as part of our Safer Streets Mission.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecuted over 1,000 knife crime offences in 2023-24 in conjunction with Thames Valley Police.
Working closely with police in Thames Valley, the CPS recently completed a two-year pilot of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs). SVROs, which can be applied for by the CPS, provide police with the power to search a person subject to an order for bladed articles or offensive weapons in a public space. An evaluation report about the pilot is due in summer 2025, ahead of a decision by the Government to roll the powers out nationally.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39549 on Nicholas Prosper, if she will take steps to inform hon. Members when a decision has been made.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
I can confirm that either the Attorney General or I will write to the hon. Member to inform him of the decision.
Sentences examined by the Attorney General’s Office under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme are published on GOV.UK. This includes the sentences examined, the outcome, and details of the cases. This information is updated weekly and I would invite the hon. Members to review the data published.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of referring the sentencing of Nicholas Prosper to the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme allows the Law Officers to refer a sentence which appears unduly lenient to the Court of Appeal for it to review. If referred, the Court has the power to increase the sentence if it agrees that it is unduly lenient.
There is a high threshold for a successful ULS reference. The sentence must be not just lenient but unduly so, for example if the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence.
In this specific case, I can confirm my office has received a number of requests to review the sentencing of this individual under the ULS scheme.
The Attorney General and I have 28 days from the date of sentence to consider the case and decide whether to refer it to the Court of Appeal.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, what recent discussions she has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of covid-19 related fraud.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This Government is committed to recouping public money lost in pandemic-related fraud. As promised in our manifesto, the Government appointed a Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner, Mr Tom Hayhoe on 3 December. He is expected to engage with both the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office.
The CPS continues to bring those who have fraudulently exploited the pandemic to justice. In September 2024, an entrepreneur was sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraudulently securing a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan, which he misused for personal expenses and legal costs.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to help increase prosecution rates for knife crime.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government is committed to halving knife crime in the next decade as set out in our Safer Streets Mission.
From Tuesday 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they will be added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords, and push daggers. The Government will also legislate to ban ninja swords and strengthen rules to prevent online sales of knives.
The Crown Prosecution Service and National Police Chiefs’ Council also work closely to prevent and tackle knife crime. Guidance setting out their joint approach to knife crime offending can be found here: Offensive Weapons, Knife Crime Practical Guidance | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk).
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) prosecuting cases and (b) providing (i) information, (ii) assistance and (iii) support to victims.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) rolled out a new Crown Court operating model last year. This is a more effective and efficient approach to justice as it means the CPS serve more material on the defence at a much earlier stage so they can be more robust with case management and encourage earlier guilty pleas.
The CPS is transforming the service it provides to victims through its Victim Transformation Programme. The Programme is delivering an improved Universal Service offer for all victims of crime, which will build victims’ understanding of the role of the CPS, ensure that victims understand their rights, and signpost victims to relevant support.
The Victim Transformation Programme also includes an Enhanced Service offer for adult victims of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). The Enhanced Service will include the offer of a meeting with a member of the prosecution team once a victim has been notified their case is proceeding to trial. This will give victims the opportunity to discuss what happens next and ask questions about the process. The Enhanced Offer will also include a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer in all CPS RASSO Units to help improve the quality of engagement with adult RASSO victims.
The Victim Transformation Programme builds on actions the CPS has already taken to improve the quality of the communications and the service it provides to victims. For example, the CPS has published an online guide for all victims of crime, which explains what they can expect when their case reaches the CPS and what their entitlements are as victims. This has had nearly 110,000 views in total since its launch in September 2022. It follows an earlier guide the CPS produced for victims of rape and serious sexual offences, which has had over 320,000 views since November 2021.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the CPS in ensuring access to justice for victims of crime.
Answered by Robert Courts
Speedy access to justice is in the interest of victims, defendants, witnesses, and society.
The Ministry of Justice is co-ordinating cross-government action to support the Crown Courts and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is engaging with key delivery partners to support longer term improvements. The national Criminal Justice Board, re-instated last year by the Lord Chancellor, is a welcomed opportunity to identify and tackle the challenges faced by the criminal justice system.
The CPS rolled out a new Crown Court operating model last year. This is a more effective and efficient approach to justice as it means the CPS serve more material on the defence at a much earlier stage so they can be more robust with case management and encourage earlier guilty pleas.
Further, the CPS has an important role in ensuring that victims are informed and supported. The CPS is transforming the service it provides to victims through its Victim Transformation Programme. The Programme is delivering an improved Universal Service offer for all victims of crime, which will build victims’ understanding of the CPS’ role, ensure that victims understand their rights, and signpost victims to relevant support.
The Victim Transformation Programme also includes an Enhanced Service offer for victims with the greatest needs. The first cohort of victims to receive the Enhanced Service offer will be adult victims of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). The Enhanced Service will include the offer of a meeting with a member of the prosecution team once a victim has been notified their case is proceeding to trial. This will give victims the opportunity to discuss what happens next and ask questions about the process. The Enhanced Offer will also include a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer in all CPS RASSO Units to help improve the quality of engagement with adult RASSO victims.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what estimate she has made of the number of CPS prosecutions that have been classified as no longer in the public interest as a result of delays in criminal trials beginning in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) case outcome records compiled in the Case Management System include an allocation of a principal reason for finalised prosecutions not resulting in a conviction (non-conviction outcomes), including the numbers which failed for public interest reasons.
The CPS does not have a specific reason accounting for delays in criminal trials. However, the category ‘Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial’ may be allocated. This can apply where there has been a delay since the commission of the offence, or since the defendant was charged, leading either to the case being dropped by the CPS, or stopped by the court on the grounds of abuse of process. It is not possible to further disaggregate these reasons.
The table below shows the number of defendants allocated this reason in each of the last five years, and the six months April to September 2020
2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | April - Sept 2020 | |
Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial | 5,706 | 4,711 | 4,011 | 4,194 | 4,417 | 6,107 |
% Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 4.3% |
Total Non-Conviction Outcomes | 107,579 | 94,692 | 84,834 | 80,474 | 70,816 | 21,857 |
% Non-Conviction Outcomes | 16.9% | 16.1% | 15.9% | 16.3% | 15.7% | 15.4% |
Total Completed Prosecution Outcomes | 637,778 | 588,021 | 533,161 | 494,811 | 451,046 | 141,885 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System |
Between April and September 2020, the volume of completed prosecution outcomes reduced due to court closures and social distancing. However, the volume of cases dropped by the CPS are not as reliant on court hearings and were less impacted.
In response to COVID-19 the CPS introduced an Interim Case Review Guidance on the Application of the Public Interest, as part of the COVID-19 crisis response. The guidance is to be applied for charging decisions, including decisions on whether to continue or discontinue a case that has already been charged. The guidance advises that when considering the question of whether a prosecution is a proportionate response, prosecutors should do so in the context of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the potential delay to criminal proceedings. Application of the principles set out in this guidance may have contributed to an increase in the proportion of cases dropped under the category of ‘Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial’.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of the vehicles used by her Department on Government business are electric vehicles.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Department for Transport is responsible for all government vehicles managed by the Government Car Service.
The Attorney General’s Office, Government Legal Department, Serious Fraud Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate have no other vehicles to report.
The Crown Prosecution Service currently lease 4 vehicles, none are currently electric vehicles.