Speeches by Bishop.

“The independent sentencing review recommended legislating to ensure that short custodial sentences be used only in exceptional circumstances. With your recommendation of a 40% reduction, how can the Government ensure that those recommendations work together to solve the prison and court capacity crisis?”

“Good afternoon, Sir Brian. I am the Member for Forest of Dean, with interests as in the register. In addition, I am a former serving police officer.”

“Sir Brian, my questions relate to your recommendation 27 where you recommend a 40% reduction in sentences for an early guilty plea. Do you think there is a risk that increasing the maximum reduction in sentence length for an early plea may place pressure on defendants to plead guilty inappropriately? If so, how would t…”

“I am the Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean. My previous career was as a police officer, and my other interests are as declared.”

“I am the Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean. My previous career was as a police officer, and my other interests are as declared.”

“Dame Nicole, you briefly mentioned the presumption of parental involvement. The Government, after lots of campaigning from colleagues across both Houses, announced last week that they will repeal the statutory presumption of parental involvement. What are the panel’s general thoughts and comments on that? Is it going f…”

“One quick follow up, if I may? One of the biggest campaigners, Claire Throssell, sadly lost her two children to her ex-partner. With this change in the law, do you agree that it is potentially going to save children’s lives?”

“One quick follow up, if I may? One of the biggest campaigners, Claire Throssell, sadly lost her two children to her ex-partner. With this change in the law, do you agree that it is potentially going to save children’s lives?”

“Dame Nicole, you briefly mentioned the presumption of parental involvement. The Government, after lots of campaigning from colleagues across both Houses, announced last week that they will repeal the statutory presumption of parental involvement. What are the panel’s general thoughts and comments on that? Is it going f…”

“When I served in the police force, my work often ended when we put perpetrators behind bars, or sometimes when I stood in court to give evidence, but the victims’ ordeals do not end there. Many reached out to me long after my role was done to tell me they still felt unheard and unprotected, and that justice for them wa…”

“On the weekend we heard Conservative Members talking about the Labour party releasing this prisoner early. That is a rather silly comment, as the Labour party did not release anybody. Does the Secretary of State agree that what has caused, created and contributed to the problems that have enabled these mistakes to happ…”

“I would share those concerns, but I have complete faith and confidence in my Front-Bench colleagues—more so than the previous Government. Building new places alone is not enough. If we are serious about cutting crime, we must change the way in which sentencing works and future-proof the justice system. In the police fo…”

“I rise to speak in the debate from the perspective of a former serving police officer; I saw first hand how our justice system far too often failed communities and, most importantly, victims—repeat offenders cycling in and out of custody, victims living in fear, and prisons at breaking point. That is why we need urgent…”

“When police officers up and down the country—like my former colleagues—reach 20 years of service, they receive a long-term service medal, but police community support officers do not seem to receive any recognition for long service. Will the Minister agree to look into providing similar recompense and recognition for t…”

“With the Crown court backlog that we inherited at such high levels, and continuing to rise, does the Minister agree that tackling it means not just adding more sitting days but making fundamental reform?”

“The shadow Minister will know from our time in Committee that I am an ex-police officer, and I thank him for his words about police officers serving the country. Does he agree that the Bill will give the police more confidence that they will have the right powers, so that they are able to make a difference?”

“I thank the Chancellor for announcement of the extra funding for crumbling schools. As we know, schools across the country were left to fail under the 14 years of the previous Government. How can establishments such as Forest high school in my constituency, which is literally crumbling day by day and at serious risk of…”

“I am the Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean. My interests are as declared. I am a former police officer.”

“I am the Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean. My interests are as declared. I am a former police officer.”

“In March, I met people from the Justice for Victims campaign group. One family told me that their young daughter was killed by an unlicensed, uninsured driver. They were asked to alter their victim impact statement several times to avoid offending the defendant and were denied the chance to fully express their grief. T…”