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House of Lords
Parliament

The last amendments to the Policing and Crime Bill are passed without debate or division and so the bill passes committee stage.

That brings to an end the day's business in the House of Lords.

Join us tomorrow for more live coverage of the Houses of Parliament from 9.30am when the Transport Secretary and his ministers will take questions from MPs.

Peers return at 11am, but until then good night!

House of Lords
Parliament

Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford rises once more to respond to the debate on these amendments.

She says that although she agrees with many of the points made in the debate, she does not believe that combining all digital crime laws into one statute "would be helpful or an adequate use of resources".

"I am not persuaded that the current existing criminal law in this area is actually defective" she says.

Lord Wigley accuses the government of complacency on this issue, but agrees to withdraw the amendment for now.

House of Lords
Parliament

Plaid Cymru peer Lord Wigley is moving tonight's penultimate amendments which relate to digital crime.

Lord Wigley says that the amendments seek to consolidate the numerous statues that have been enacted over the past 30 years on this issue, as well as updating the law to address the most recent online behaviour.

The amendments seek to ensure that police officers are properly trained in respect of digital crime, which he says has seen "phenomenal growth" in recent years.

Image source, PA

House of Lords
Parliament

If you are interested in finding out more about the Policing and Crime Bill, a full list of the bill's documents - including lists of amendments, the text of the bill itself, and briefing papers by the House of Commons and House of Lords libraries, can be found here, external.

House of Lords
Parliament

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen says she agrees "wholeheartedly" that the criminal justice system must protect victims, but says that the rule of law provides that a defendant must be given a fair trial. 

This includes the right of the accused to be informed promptly of the nature and cause of the accusation against them, she says. Not letting the defendant know the identity of their accuser "fundamentally undermines" this cornerstone of our criminal justice system, the minister says.

"That is not to say that there should not be crucial safeguards in place for victims and witnesses" Baroness Chisholm adds.

Lord Wigley responds to this answer from the government by saying that the interpretation of the amendment by the minister is "strange indeed".

He says that he will likely bring this issue back at report stage, but for now agrees to withdraw his amendment.

House of Lords
Parliament

Plaid Cymru peer Lord Wigley is moving his amendment 228C which has also been supported by Labour's Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede and Conservative peer Baroness Howe of Idlicote.

The amendment seeks to ensure that the identity of a victim or witness of a serious sexual or violent offence is not given to the person accused of the offence, if it is reasonable to assume that such a disclosure would put the victim or witness at risk of further harm.

Lord Wigley gives several harrowing anecdotal examples of women who live in constant fear because the perpetrator of such a crime was given their name by police officers.

House of Lords
Parliament

The Committee Stage puts a bill through detailed examination and scrutiny. 

Major and complex legislation is considered in a Committee of the Whole House.

Other bills are considered in a Grand Committee away from the main chamber of the Lords.

Peers rarely form smaller standing committees to consider government legislation.

All proposed amendments can be considered and debate on amendments is unrestricted.

If the bill is passed at Committee Stage the legislation moves on to Report Stage.

House of Lords
Parliament

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen responds to the debate for the government and says that victims of all criminal offences are entitled to support under the Victims' Code.

She also says that the Victims' Code entitles victims to being treated in a respectful and professional manner without discrimination of any kind.

The minister tells peers about increased funding for the criminal justice system and planned additions to the Victims' Code.

Baroness Brinton replies to the minister's answer saying it still does not address "the soft issues" that affect the day to day running of cases in the system.

However, after assurances that the minister will meet with her to discuss the issue further, Baroness Brinton withdraws her amendment.

House of Lords
Parliament

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Brinton is now moving a number of amendments that relate to observance of the Victims’ Code and of better treatment of victims more generally within the criminal justice system.

Baroness Brinton tells peers many things that happen day to day in the criminal justice system that cause victims "great distress", and says that many victims feel that victimisation continues throughout the criminal justice process.

She says that the amendments seek to create a "balanced and fair justice system for all who participate in it".

Many problems are due to inefficiencies in the system, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

The debate concludes and the business in the Commons is adjourned for the day.

MPs return tomorrow at 9:30am for questions to the Transport Secretary.

House of Commons
Parliament

Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says he is "determiend" to improve safety for officers and prisoners.

He says the current rise in violence in prisons is "unacceptable" and tells the House that the government is investing over £100m to recruit an additional 2,500 prison staff by 2018.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Ricahrd Drax says the presence of drugs in prisons is behind much of the violence. 

He adds that it exacerbates existing mental health issues and leads to bullying and debt.

He tells MPs that drugs are smuggled in by drones, personal visits and, in some cases, "soaked in letters".

He calls for "more regular searches" of cells to be held. He also wants increased sentencing for people who assault prison officers - "a strong deterrent is needed." 

He argues that the practice of "potting" should also be treated more seriously. He explains to the chamber that the practice of potting refers to when urine and excrement are thrown at an officer. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour frontbencher Lord Kennedy of Southwark is now moving amendment 219D which he says is an "important step" in allowing police and crime commissioners to tackle the online abuse of children.

He says that only when police forces begin systematically collecting this data will we know the prevalence of the issue, and once the prevalence is known then adequate resources and appropriate services can be allocated to tackle it.

House of Lords
Parliament

Home Office Minister Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen responds to the debate for the government and says she recognises that there is "particular concern" in the issue of religious marriages when "one or both parties are unaware of their rights".

Baroness Chisholm says the government share the concerns raised by Baroness Cox and takes them "very seriously indeed".

Baroness Cox thanks the minister for her response but says she is concerned by a "lack of a sense of urgency" to address an issue that is currently ongoing.

The amendment is withdrawn.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs now move on to an adjournment debate on prison officer safety led by Conservative MP Richard Drax.

Yesterday thousands of prison officers stopped work amid health and safety concerns. 

The protests follow a number of high-profile incidents at prisons across England, including a riot and the escape of two inmates at Pentonville Prison. 

The Justice Secretary Liz Truss has said the government is recruiting 2,500 extra officers. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Crossbench peer Baroness Cox is now moving her amendment 219C which seeks to ensure that religious marriages accord with the law relating to marriages in England and Wales.

Baroness Cox says that her amendment does not specify any particular religion, but tells peers that it has "specific relevance" for Muslim women who are adversely affected by what she calls the "discriminatory" rulings of Sharia courts. 

Speaking of her amendment, Baroness Cox says "it is motivated by deep concern for many women living in this country in ways that are utterly unacceptable".

Baroness Cox, and several supportive peers, tell the chamber anecdotal evidence of women who have assumed that their religious marriage ceremony was binding under English law, but find, often to their detriment, that it is not when cases of divorce or abuse arise.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have voted to reject the motion 279 votes to 200.

The government's rewording of the motion is agreed to without a vote.

House of Commons
Parliament

The debate on social care concludes and MPs vote on the opposition motion. 

The motion calls for the government to bring forward funding to solve a "crisis" in the social care sector.

The result is expected at 7:15pm.

House of Commons
Parliament

Health Minister David Mowat tells MPs that according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) the UK spends 25% more on adult social care than the other major economies in Europe such as Germany and France.

He says that, despite higher funding levels, the system in the UK is clearly "under pressure".

He suggests that other countries do a better job of funding their care systems through long term saving and social insurance.