§ 22. Mr. David Kidney (Stafford)What action she intends to take to establish a body of prosecutors with expertise in prosecuting cases involving antisocial behaviour. [135226]
§ 25. Vera Baird (Redcar)What plans she has for the introduction of specialist antisocial behaviour prosecutors. [135251]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralPlans are being developed for between 10 and 12 specialist prosecutors, leading Crown Prosecution Service work on prosecuting antisocial behaviour. They will develop and lead the work, which will be undertaken in all areas to improve the way in which the criminal justice system responds to antisocial behaviour.
§ Mr. KidneyI have read the Home Office action plan, "Together Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour". Is it not unalloyed good news that the Government are intensifying action to protect the great majority of our constituents from the unacceptable antisocial behaviour of a small minority? Is it not important that the whole of the criminal justice system work together to ensure that action is successful? Will my right hon. and learned Friend assure me that in all parts of the country the police and the courts will have access to those specialist prosecutors?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI agree that it is good news that progress is being made on this area of work. I also strongly agree that there needs to be a partnership, with the Crown Prosecution Service, the police, the prosecutors and the courts all working together. That is progressing. I am sure that he will agree that we also need a wider partnership. That brings us to being
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".Where appropriate, orders must be made and the breaching of orders must be prosecuted, but we also need to tackle the causes of antisocial behaviour, and that is part of our work on regeneration, education, training and opportunities.
§ Vera BairdIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that people bailed on antisocial behaviour charges often 433 try to frighten their victims to stop them testifying? In Teesside, they are usually given bail again on condition that they do not do so. Of course, they are not supposed to see prosecution witnesses when they are on bail. To tell them that if they do see prosecution witnesses they will suffer a condition telling them not to see them is judicial conduct from the planet Zog. The Crown Prosecution Service has the power to appeal against those grants of bail. It is my experience and that of the Recorder of Middlesbrough, with whom I have corresponded on the matter that this very rarely happens. Does that not make an urgent case for antisocial behaviour specialist prosecutors who will use all their powers?
§ The Solicitor-Generalrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. In future, I expect the hon. and learned Member for Redcar (Vera Baird) to put her question at the beginning of her speech. It is always better to put the question first.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralMy hon. and learned Friend raises two important matters. One is the enforcement of the antisocial behaviour legislation and the other is the granting or refusing of bail and the enforcing of bail conditions. Without trying to deal with all the important areas that she raised—perhaps I may write to her with more detail—I will say that the circumstances that she described amount to a breach of bail conditions, which is itself a criminal offence, and they may amount to perverting the course of justice. Specialist prosecutors will work with local authorities. In her area, Redcar and Cleveland council, two orders were made in the last year for which figures are available and two more orders were made at the High Court. None of them was refused. I spoke to the chief Crown prosecutor in her area, David Magson, this morning, who told me that no file of evidence that has been brought for breach of an antisocial behaviour order has been discontinued; all have been taken to court and have been successful.