Policing and Prevention of Violence against Women

Tonia Antoniazzi Excerpts

Monday 15th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend sums it up perfectly. I completely agree with the sentiment she has just expressed.

[Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab) [V]]

Last week on the Armed Forces Committee we heard about prosecuting crimes, including rape, through the military courts. One statement stood out for me. It was:

“our servicepeople are thoroughly good people, but they drink too much, something goes wrong and they end up in court.”

What discussions has the Home Secretary’s Department had about that attitude towards victims of male violence, and does it reflect a general attitude to women that we saw on Saturday on Clapham Common?

[Priti Patel]

First, no it does not reflect a general attitude to women, and no one should pre-judge or make assumptions of that nature. The hon. Lady makes a very important point, though, in terms of the armed forces work and the work that has taken place across both Departments. Our Minister with responsibility for safeguarding has done extensive work on this particular issue with our colleagues in the Ministry of Defence and that will of course continue.