Speeches by Farnsworth.

“Will the Leveson review look at section 28 specifically?”

“Good afternoon. My name is Linsey Farnsworth. I am the Member of Parliament for Amber Valley. My interests are as declared on the register, but of relevance to today, I was a Crown prosecutor, although I do not think Chris Hartley and myself ever crossed paths at that time.”

“On the subject of the Sentencing Bill, some of the measures in the sentencing Bill are based on a model in Texas that has had some results in relation to reoffending rates and in relation to the crime rate overall. Could you tell us a bit about that and what you are hoping for as an outcome from the sentencing Bill in …”

“Would you accept, then, that that is a flaw in the methodology?”

“Can I ask a very quick question? Apologies, I have not looked at the methodology, so this might be a silly question. If you have five charges and there are four acquittals and one conviction, so you have five different victims but the conviction was somebody who had not given evidence by section 28 and the others had, …”

“I think that in Texas they saw a reduction in recidivism as a result of the measures that they brought in, and in the overall crime rate. I am sure that you are hoping, but are you expecting that to be a similar outcome in this country?”

“Are there any plans to change the rules on speaking to jurors about whether they felt that that had an impact on their decision making?”

“One of the witnesses mentioned the disparity of payments for barristers, depending on whether they are doing prosecution or defence work for section 28, so I hope that that is looked at as well. Minister, in your letter to the Committee on 7 March, you committed to keeping the operation of section 28 under review. Coul…”

“We have just heard that one of the practical challenges is that sometimes the cases where there is pre-recorded cross-examination go to the bottom of the list in the court backlog. Are there any other practical challenges to implementing section 28, particularly practical challenges during trials? What is the situation…”

“Good afternoon. My name is Linsey Farnsworth. I am the Member of Parliament for Amber Valley. My interests are as declared on the register, but of relevance to today, I was a Crown prosecutor, although I do not think Chris Hartley and myself ever crossed paths at that time.”

“That leads me to two very different questions but both arising out of what you have just said. The first is whether those challenges with cases across court and limitations on number of barristers is having an impact negatively on the court backlog, which we know is a big problem in any event. The other is that you men…”

“We have just heard that one of the practical challenges is that sometimes the cases where there is pre-recorded cross-examination go to the bottom of the list in the court backlog. Are there any other practical challenges to implementing section 28, particularly practical challenges during trials? What is the situation…”

“That leads me to two very different questions but both arising out of what you have just said. The first is whether those challenges with cases across court and limitations on number of barristers is having an impact negatively on the court backlog, which we know is a big problem in any event. The other is that you men…”

“Yes, I think we have really covered the whole of question 8, haven’t we? I will move on to my second question, which is looking to the future in terms of what we can learn. We have had research from the MOJ and from Professor Thomas. What research, if any, do the witnesses think should now be embarked upon within the s…”

“Are you satisfied that you will have that?”

“And the second part?”

“Thank you. That leads me on to the next question. We know that the Standing Advocate does not need to be legally qualified, but you clearly want to have a good impact on the way you deal with, treat or interact with victims and survivors. Part of that, I imagine, will be the need to explain to them legal processes that…”

“Thank you for your evidence so far. I have been really heartened to hear your determination to make sure that this office is effective; it is such an important role and an important office. I was really happy to hear you talk about truth and justice. I am just wondering what lessons you think we can take from the Hills…”

“Good afternoon. I am Linsey Farnsworth, the Member for Amber Valley and a former Crown prosecutor, and my interests are as per the register.”

“I am sure you will, thank you. That is everything from me.”