Speeches by Tapp.

“Who sets those rates?”

“Good to hear. Zooming out a bit again, you said in the past that “to deliver swift justice, our whole criminal justice system must adapt and change”. Can you elaborate on that, please, and what reforms would you recommend?”

“Retention is important as well, isn’t it? Do you have an issue with retention in staffing?”

“What would you say is the reason for the increase in the number of receipts coming in?”

“On the Crown court backlogs, from your perspective what factors are causing those delays in the system?”

“Your targets are three hours in custody and, I think you said, 28 days on bail. Are you meeting those?”

“What is the impact on the CPS of the backlogs and delays?”

“Thank you. How far into the future are the trials being listed?”

“I would like to touch on the Crown court backlogs. In the absence of the official published data, what is the CPS estimate of the size of the Crown court backlogs?”

“Congratulations.”

“I am Mike Tapp, Dover and Deal. I was previously employed by the National Crime Agency.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you. If I could touch on a similar but not the same issue, since the Hamas attacks in October, we have seen antisemitism in the country rising. The Met police recorded a 1,350% rise the week after the attack. Across the Jewish community, confidence in the CPS to prosecute and ensure proper sentencing for perpetra…”

“That is really interesting; thank you for that. Unless there are any other questions on that point, I will move on—”

“I previously worked for the National Crime Agency.”

“Is there scope to plan for more than just one financial year?”

“T6. It is vital that we continue to supply Ukraine with aid in the face of Russian aggression. Is that aid combined with diplomatic efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace, in line with UN conventions?”

“Coming from a policing family, and having served with the National Crime Agency, I am immensely proud of British policing. However, I am equally devastated at the decline overseen by the Conservatives. Can the Minister outline what we are doing to rebuild British policing and return it to being the best in the world?”

“The right hon. Member for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge (Sir Gavin Williamson) who raised the urgent question appears to be suffering from some memory loss. Under the Conservative Government, we saw 130,000 small boat crossings and record backlogs at the Home Office. The Conservatives opened 400 hotels—that is, 21,…”

“Do prison staff park within the boundaries of the estate?”