Written questions by Jenrick.

What information his Department holds on the average projected length of time between charge and trial in cases of sexual assault which are yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences. The Ministry of Justice publishes end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for sexual offences, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.

What information his Department holds on the longest projected length of time between charge and trial in a single case of sexual assault which is yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences. The Ministry of Justice publishes end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for sexual offences, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.

How many people with five or more previous convictions were convicted of shoplifting and avoided a custodial sentence in the last 12 months.

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously and we are determined to ensure that the criminal justice system has the right tools to deal with them. We are expanding the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the causes of prolific offending. We know these problem-solving approaches cut crime, with a 33 percent decrease in the rate of arrests compared to offenders who receive standard sentences. We are also introducing new orders to hit offenders where it hurts – limiting their freedoms in the community and ensuring punishment outside of prison does exactly that. These will include banning offenders from attending pubs, bars and clubs, as well as public events such as football matches and concerts. For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute. Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions. The information requested is provided in the tables attached and includes further notes.

How many offenders have committed three separate offences within three months and not received a custodial sentence, in each of the last three years.

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously and we are determined to ensure that the criminal justice system has the right tools to deal with them. We are expanding the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the causes of prolific offending. We know these problem-solving approaches cut crime, with a 33 percent decrease in the rate of arrests compared to offenders who receive standard sentences. We are also introducing new orders to hit offenders where it hurts – limiting their freedoms in the community and ensuring punishment outside of prison does exactly that. These will include banning offenders from attending pubs, bars and clubs, as well as public events such as football matches and concerts. For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute. Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions. The information requested is provided in the tables attached and includes further notes.

What his planned timetable is for reducing the Crown Court backlog in absolute terms.

This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog. The last government promised to reduce the Crown Court backlog to 53,000 by March 2025. Instead, the backlog increased to 76,957 by March 2025. We have taken immediate action including funding a record-high allocation of 110,000 Crown Court sitting days this financial year to mitigate the backlog. We committed to investing up to £92 million more a year in criminal legal aid solicitors and boosted Magistrates’ sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months. However, such steps can only mitigate the growth of the backlog. More fundamental reform is necessary to see the backlog reduce in absolute terms. That is why the Government asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose once-in-a-generation reform that will improve timeliness in the courts and deliver swifter justice for victims.  We are committed to creating a more stable and sustainable criminal justice system, in which victims and the public can have confidence. Part one of the Independent Review of Criminal Courts has been published. We are considering Sir Brian’s proposals and will publish a government response in short order . Part two of the Review, considering how the criminal courts can operate as efficiently as possible, is expected to be finalised later this year. We intend to introduce legislation in the second session as soon as parliamentary time allows to implement the necessary reforms.

When the next data on assaults against prison officers will be published.

The Safety in Custody publication is published every quarter, including figures for assaults on staff. The next quarterly publication will be on 30 October 2025. The annual assaults tables include more detailed breakdowns, including the number of assault incidents on prison officers. The annual assaults tables are published in April each year, with the figures for 2025 due to be published on 30 April 2026.The statistics are available at the following link: Safety in custody statistics - GOV.UK.

What the longest projected length of time between charge and trial is in cases of domestic abuse yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.The Ministry of Justice does publish end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Data is only published for the average.However, it is not possible to separately identify cases of ‘domestic abuse’ in the published data because the information held centrally is related to the offence in law for which a defendant is convicted. Domestic abuse related offences can be prosecuted under a wide range of legally defined offences.In line with the Independent Sentencing Review recommendation, we will be introducing a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases. This will enable police, prisons, and probation to consistently identify domestic abuse offenders and improve support for victims, whether the perpetrator is in the community or in custody.The Ministry of Justice commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to tackle the outstanding caseload and to improve timeliness across the board – including for domestic abuse. We are considering Sir Brian’s recommendations and will issue a response in due course.

Whether he has a target date for acquiring adequate numbers of electronic tags to accommodate the provisions of the Sentencing Bill.

The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are continuing to assess the likely impact of the Sentencing Bill on demand for Electronic Monitoring and will order the required numbers of tags in line with those assessments and contractual requirements.

How many electronic tags his Department has acquired in the context of the Sentencing Bill.

The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are continuing to assess the likely impact of the Sentencing Bill on demand for Electronic Monitoring and will order the required numbers of tags in line with those assessments and contractual requirements.

What the average projected length of time is between charge and trial in cases of domestic abuse yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.The Ministry of Justice does publish end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Data is only published for the average.However, it is not possible to separately identify cases of ‘domestic abuse’ in the published data because the information held centrally is related to the offence in law for which a defendant is convicted. Domestic abuse related offences can be prosecuted under a wide range of legally defined offences.In line with the Independent Sentencing Review recommendation, we will be introducing a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases. This will enable police, prisons, and probation to consistently identify domestic abuse offenders and improve support for victims, whether the perpetrator is in the community or in custody.The Ministry of Justice commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to tackle the outstanding caseload and to improve timeliness across the board – including for domestic abuse. We are considering Sir Brian’s recommendations and will issue a response in due course.

What estimate she has made of the longest projected length of time between charge and trial in any single case of rape which has yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.The Ministry of Justice does publish end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for rape. Data is published for the average duration for the process.Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.The Ministry of Justice commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to tackle the outstanding caseload and to improve timeliness across the board – including for rape and other sexual offences. We are considering Sir Brian’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the report by the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate entitled An inspection of early advice and pre-charge decision making in adult rape cases, published in July 2025.

This Government is committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls, including rape. The HMCPSI report examines early evidence and pre-charge decision-making in adult rape cases. The Ministry of Justice works with criminal justice agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), to ensure that the court system and victim support services are equipped to meet rising demand as more rape cases reach court.The CPS remains resolute in its determination to continue to increase the number of rape cases taken to court each year – so that more victims, irrespective of their background and circumstances, can see justice done.The CPS has welcomed the publication of the HMCPSI report and accepted its recommendations; immediate action is being taken to address the concerns raised, working with partners in policing and the voluntary sector.This includes ensuring that the National Operating Model for Adult Rape Prosecution is fully and consistently embedded at both national and local levels, and taking proactive steps to strengthen the quality of rape casework. These improvements will be driven by a new Rape Action Plan focussed on providing enhanced assurance of legal decision-making, supporting and upskilling CPS staff, and increasing public confidence in charging.

How many meetings she has had with representatives from the Council of Europe since 19 June 2025.

There have not been any further meetings with Council of Europe representatives since 19 June 2025. UK Government officials have continued discussions with their counterparts on matters raised in the previous Lord Chancellor’s speech delivered on 18 June 2025 to the Committee of Ministers.

When he plans to publish the strategy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

The scale of violence against women and girls in our country is intolerable and this Government is treating it as the national emergency that it is.We are working tirelessly across Government to deliver the VAWG Strategy. It is vital that we get this right, and we are committed to publishing the Strategy as soon as possible.

What estimate she has made of the average projected length of time between charge and trial in cases of rape which have yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.The Ministry of Justice does publish end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for rape. Data is published for the average duration for the process.Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.The Ministry of Justice commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to tackle the outstanding caseload and to improve timeliness across the board – including for rape and other sexual offences. We are considering Sir Brian’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

What meetings Ministers in her Department have had with their counterparts in (a) Albania, (b) Poland, (c) Romania, (d) Jamaica, (e) Lithuania, (f) Bulgaria and (g) Vietnam on the removal of foreign national offenders since July 2024.

The Government is committed to the removal of foreign criminals and those with no right to be in the UK. We have strong returns cooperation with countries across the globe and continuing to build on this cooperation is at the heart of our diplomatic engagement.From 5 July 2024 to 4 July 2025, the Government has ensured the removal of 5,179 foreign national offenders, 14 percent more than the same period twelve months before, and almost a third up on the total for 2023, when the Rt Hon Gentleman was the minister responsible.

How many stab vests have been issued to prison officers since June 2025.

Following the Lord Chancellor’s announcement on 3 June that we will be mandating Protective Body Armour (PBA – commonly referred to as "stab vests") for use in Separation Centres, Close Supervision Centres and Segregation Units in the Long-term High Secure Estate, we are working to ensure that PBA will be made and issued as quickly as possible.Staff continue to have the ability to wear PBA (with other personal protective equiment) when necessary.

When her Department plans to publish the next Safety in custody statistics.

Safety in Custody statistics are published quarterly, with the next publication due on 31 July 2025. This will cover deaths in prison custody to June 2025, and self-harm and assaults in prison custody to March 2025.The statistics will be available at the following link: Safety in custody statistics - GOV.UK.

How many assaults on staff at prisons have been recorded in each month since 1 December 2024.

Assaults on staff by month can be found on the bottom row on table 8e in the Safety in Custody Summary Tables, available at the following link: Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2024_final_table.xlsx.The Safety in Custody statistics are updated quarterly, and the next update will be published on 31 July.

If she will take steps to facilitate a visit for Rt hon. and hon. Members of the Official Opposition to (a) HMP Long Lartin, (b) HMP Belmarsh, (c) HMP Manchester and (d) HMP Wandsworth; and when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 11 June 2025 from the Rt hon. Member for Newark.

The correspondence of 11 June will be responded to in due course.