New Clause 16 - Provision of explanations to victims
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
5:00 pm
Ms Harriet Harman (Solicitor General, Law Officers' Department; Camberwell and Peckham, Labour)
Unfortunately, I had not got to my ''however'' point. I hope that the hon. Lady will still be as pleased when I have made it.
However, there may be occasions on which it is not possible to provide an explanation for a decision. It might, for example, jeopardise the continuing investigation of the offence or put the safety of a suspect at risk. In those circumstances, the CPS is expected to record the reasons for not passing on an explanation.
As for enforcement of the code, we are particularly keen to avoid setting up a new area of litigation during the drafting process. Complaints will therefore be investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, who will have access to all the documentation necessary to judge whether the police and the CPS have behaved reasonably in withholding explanations in a case.
I hope that those new procedures satisfy my hon. Friends. If not, I regret to say that we have to resist new clause 16.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill.