argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): We are putting more resources into the system, with more court rooms for jury trials, more magistrates courts sitting on Saturdays and no limitation this year on the number of Crown court sitting days. All those things are designed to make sure that we get through the work available and deliver swift justice. If there are any particular local issues affecting her and her constituents, I would be happy to correspond or meet to discuss them. The Government have an unshakeable commitment to making sure that justice is delivered right across the country.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Jacob Young (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister for his statement. However, this problem will outlive the pandemic. We need criminals to face the sentences they deserve as soon as possible. I have constituents in Redcar and Cleveland who have been waiting more than two and a half years for their day in court, and we all have victims who are waiting for justice to be done. It is great that we have established a Nightingale court in Middlesbrough to help with this, but what is the long-term strategy to cope with these delays, and how long can we expect the Nightingale courts to continue?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the Nightingale courts will continue for as long as we need them. My hon. Friend makes a good point: at some point in the relatively near future, we hope that the current restrictions will be eased or even lifted, but that will not be the end of the story as far as the courts are concerned, because we will need to continue working, probably significantly beyond the end of the current coronavirus circumstances, to make sure that the court system is in the shape that we want. This journey will continue; it will not end suddenly in the coming months. We will make sure that the courts and sitting days needed are available so that justice is delivered. He mentioned making sure that criminals get the right sentences. He will have read the sentencing White Paper last September. We will shortly legislate in this area, and that legislation will include longer sentences—more time spent in prison—for the most serious criminals, which I am sure he and his constituents will strongly welcome.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): My colleague the police Minister gave a full statement on the police records situation a day or two ago, and the Prime Minister answered questions on that topic from this very Dispatch Box just an hour or so ago, which I am sure the hon. Member listened to carefully. The Justice Secretary and Home Secretary and the Government will take no lessons from the Labour party on criminal justice when, according to the British crime survey, crime in the last 10 years under this Government has fallen 41% in comparison to our predecessor.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
John Michael Howell (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister is probably aware that the Lord Chief Justice recently set out in a very honest statement his view of the continuation of the rule of law by the sort of changes that he introduced. He also pointed to some of the difficulties. Will the Minister join me in congratulating and praising the Lord Chief Justice for all that he, specifically, has done in leading the judiciary forward in this difficult area?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, has provided exemplary leadership through these difficult days, keeping our justice system running in a way that many other countries have not. I join my hon. Friend in extending my thanks and congratulations to the Lord Chief Justice, the senior judiciary and, indeed, the country’s entire judiciary for the work that they have done in delivering justice in these last nine or 10 months, and for the work that we are going to do together in the months ahead.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): The lead times that the hon. Member is describing are, thankfully, very rare exceptions. As I said, for the most serious cases, where the defendant is remanded in custody, a clear majority of those that had a first hearing in November will have their substantive trial by July this year. We are taking action, we have been taking action, and we will continue to take action to look after victims of the most serious offences— the most distressing ones, such as rape and domestic violence—by making sure that they are supported. I have mentioned the £32 million of additional money that will be spent next year on the victim service, ISVAs and all those things that support victims and witnesses. I have also mentioned the use of section 28 evidence, which means they can give their evidence by video at a very early stage, rather than having to wait a long time. All those things are concrete, tangible actions that will help in the area that she raises today.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
David Mervyn Johnston (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his statement on recent progress in clearing the covid backlog. There will be victims out there who will look at these headlines and wonder whether they should pursue their cases, or perhaps recent victims of crime wondering whether they should come forward at all, given the delays that the papers have suggested. What is my hon. Friend’s message to victims of crime at this time?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I say to victims: we are there to support you, to hear you and to seek justice for you. As my hon. Friend knows, we are hiring 20,000 extra police officers to keep victims safe. We are keeping the court system running in these difficult circumstances. We are getting back to a period in which magistrates courts are clearing the backlog and, I believe, the Crown court shortly will do so. So I say to victims: justice will be done. Your voice will be heard. Come forward. We are here for you. Do not hesitate—we want to hear your story. We will listen to it, we will act and we will make sure justice is done.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): The Crown Prosecution Service, even before coronavirus, had an extra £85 million a year put into it to enable it to hire 400 more prosecutors. We are hiring an extra 20,000 police officers—we are about a third of the way through that programme already—and the Ministry of Justice had a significant funding increase for the current financial year, announced before coronavirus, running into several hundred million pounds. Those extra resources are being brought to bear, but the hon. Member is right to say, I am afraid, that there is a problem with the charging and prosecution of rape cases, which predates coronavirus. It is a very serious problem. We are taking action through the recruitment of more ISVAs and changes to disclosure rules, but that is not enough on its own. More needs to be done, and the rape review being led by my colleague the Minister for Crime and Policing, which is due to report very shortly, will propose further actions to address the problem that the hon. Member raises. It is a problem. It is not yet fixed. We need to take more action, and we will.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
James Barry Daly (Conservative, Centre-right): As a former criminal defence solicitor, may I ask my hon. Friend to join me in praising all the practitioners who have contributed so much to access to justice during the pandemic? Many have asked me to ask the Minister what steps the Government have taken and are taking to enhance capacity in the criminal courts. Finally, does he not think it odd that the Scottish National party is asking questions about the English judicial system, despite its call for English questions on English laws?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I have such a choice to choose from! Yes, I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to the legal profession and the judiciary for the work they have done in these difficult circumstances. To answer the question that his colleagues have put via him, we are opening up Nightingale courts. A total of 19 are open, with 36 additional courtrooms. We have already rolled out the cloud video platform to ensure that hearings can be done remotely, and we are ensuring that Crown court sitting days are not a limitation in this financial year, so we are doing everything we can to open up capacity in the criminal justice system. We are also considering whether we can extend operating hours, and I would be interested to hear my hon. Friend’s views on that, perhaps after today’s question. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that our capacity is increased.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): Our recovery plans apply across the whole jurisdiction, but I would like to pay particular tribute to the court system in Wales. When we look at the figures for magistrates courts and Crown courts, we see that Wales is one of the parts of the jurisdiction that is doing either the best or very nearly the best. The courts in Wales are performing extremely well, and I would like to thank and pay tribute to the Welsh judiciary, HMCTS staff and the legal fraternity for the work they have done to make that possible. And yes, the recovery will continue beyond the immediate coronavirus pandemic. There will be work to do that goes on into the future, as the right hon. Lady says, and as the Justice Committee Chairman said. The work will continue across the entire jurisdiction.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Andrew John Carter (Conservative, Centre-right): I join the Minister in paying tribute to magistrates in Cheshire and Merseyside for the work they are undertaking, and invite him to welcome the new volunteer members of the bench who were sworn in just before Christmas and are now serving in courts in the north-west. Having sat as a magistrate last week myself in Liverpool, I can confirm that the magistrates court and the Nightingale court at St George’s Hall are covid-safe and working very efficiently. Can my hon. Friend outline what steps are being taken to ensure that the most serious cases are heard quickly, both in magistrates courts and Crown courts, so that justice is not delayed?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I will do my best, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am delighted to hear that the courts in Liverpool are functioning so well. The listing of cases is a matter for the judiciary, but I know that judges are mindful of the points that my hon. Friend raises, and where there are serious and sensitive cases, judges do prioritise those in listing.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady’s family for their service in the police force. We are, as a nation, grateful for everything they do on the frontline. It is not our intention to undermine those fundamental principles of justice, and even though we are in difficult circumstances, we have not cut corners with those fundamental rights to justice, nor do we plan to.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have spent a quarter of a billion pounds this year on making our court estate covid-safe. Public Health England and Public Health Wales find it to be safe. I hope that it reassures the hon. Gentleman’s constituents to know that the number of positive cases in the court system detected among court staff is no different from what we find in the general population. The measures that have been taken are working, and people who need to use the justice system do not need to be afraid in the way he describes We are not complacent. We aim to do more, particularly in the area of testing. I urge people using the court system to take a lateral flow test, administered by a local authority testing centre, before going into court where they can, and if they see anything that concerns them, they should report it quickly, because there are reporting processes available. We are committed to making sure that courts are safe, and that work will continue.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): We have opened 36 Nightingale courts across the country. I am sorry that there is not one so far in the hon. Lady’s county, but I would be willing—delighted, in fact—to speak with her about her proposals for her county. If she would like to make contact, I will happily either exchange correspondence or have a meeting to discuss those ideas. There are sometimes reasons why a particular building is not suitable that are not immediately apparent—it might be to do with custody cells or something else—but I am happy to have a proper, detailed conversation with her about her ideas, to see what can be done. If she follows up with my office or my Department, I will be delighted to do that.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Laura Rose Farris (Conservative, Centre-right): Last year, the Ministry of Justice received calls to temporarily dispense with juries as a way of clearing the backlog in the criminal justice courts. I pay tribute to the Secretary of State for his determination not to do this. However, will my hon. Friend reassure the House that as he works to accelerate the disposal of criminal matters, he remains committed to preserving juries as a fundamental cornerstone of the criminal justice system?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, we do remain committed to the foundation stones of our justice system. Just as we have not cut any corners in delivering justice in these difficult past few months, we do not plan to cut any corners in the future.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): Some local courts have been brought back into use in response to the pandemic. We have had to use Nightingale courts not because the current court estate is, in itself, inadequate, but because we need to space out a lot more to hold hearings and trials, especially jury trials, in a covid-safe way. Even where particular courts—the Old Bailey is a good example—have quite a large number of courtrooms, we can only use a subset of those in a covid-safe way. We have enough jury courtrooms, but they are sometimes difficult to use in a distanced, covid-safe way, and that is why we have had to open up the Nightingale courts. However, we will see what lessons we can learn, as the hon. Gentleman says. We will keep this under careful review and reflect on it very carefully.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I will tell the House what is being tough on crime. According to the crime survey for England and Wales—the only source of crime statistics that the Office for National Statistics says is reliable—the number of crimes in the jurisdiction of England and Wales has gone down by 41% since 2010, and that is the number that matters the most.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Caroline Elizabeth Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend the Minister for the work he has done to get jury trials back up and running. I have a constituent who has been called for jury service and is quite worried about their own safety and the safety of those they live with. What information can my hon. Friend give about the steps he is taking to make jury service covid-safe so that my constituents can be reassured when they are undertaking this important public duty?
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): On the safe working environment, I have already mentioned that Public Health England and Public Health Wales, which are the relevant bodies, find our courts to be safe environments. But as I have said, if any legal practitioner or other court user comes across a particular circumstance that concerns them in a court, there are reporting mechanisms that I strongly encourage them to utilise if required In relation to hours, we are carefully considering the options; no decisions have been taken. But I would have thought that many people working in the legal profession would be glad to have additional working hours. Some practitioners say that they have not been earning as much as they ordinarily would because of the coronavirus restrictions, particularly over the summer. Clearly, additional hours provide an opportunity in that regard. But as I say, no decisions have been taken and we continue to think carefully and listen carefully to everybody with an interest in the system.
Serious Criminal Cases Backlog — House of Commons, 2021-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the backlog of serious criminal cases in the justice system.
Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp (Conservative, Centre-right): I would point to the quarter of a billion pounds that we have invested this year alone—extra money for making sure that our courts are covid safe and have the capacity needed to deliver justice. That is a striking investment and a striking commitment—one that has not only started the court recovery, but one that I hope and expect will sustain it in the months ahead.