Solicitor General

In the House of Commons debate, the Solicitor General, Sarah Sackman, outlined the government's position on several key issues. Regarding the unduly lenient sentence scheme, she stated that sentencing is the responsibility of the judiciary, and offenders already have the right to appeal excessive sentences. On the issue of violence against women and girls, the Solicitor General acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and the government's commitment to halving such crimes within a decade. She discussed measures such as the introduction of specialist rape courts and the need for better coordination between the police and Crown Prosecution Service. In response, the shadow Solicitor General, Sir Jeremy Wright, agreed that extending the unduly lenient sentence scheme to cover unduly severe sentences would not be appropriate, but suggested the government could consider more proactive monitoring of sentencing, particularly for newly created offences. The shadow Solicitor General also welcomed the Solicitor General's appointment and that of the new Chair of the Justice Committee, Andy Slaughter. The debate then covered a range of topics, including the need to increase prosecution rates for cases related to violence against women and girls, the use of Clare's law to protect victims of domestic abuse, and the impact of delays in the criminal justice system on victims. The Solicitor General acknowledged the problems and outlined the government's plans, such as the introduction of specialist rape courts and the commitment to halve violence against women and girls. The discussion also touched on the prosecution of rioters, with the Solicitor General highlighting the swift action taken by the Crown Prosecution Service during the recent disorder. However, there was a debate around whether those convicted of rioting should be eligible for the early release scheme. The Solicitor General defended the scheme, stating that it was necessary to address the "mess on prison places" inherited from the previous government. Finally, the debate addressed the effective prosecution of street crime, including antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, and knife crime. The Solicitor General acknowledged the challenges faced by communities, such as people's anxiety about giving evidence, and outlined the government's plans to tackle these issues, including through increased neighbourhood policing and new laws to ban certain weapons.