Clause 3 - Automatic online conviction and penalty for certain summary offences

Judicial Review and Courts Bill – in the House of Commons at 5:45 pm on 25 January 2022.

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Votes in this debate

  • Division number 172
    A majority of MPs voted not to require a prosecutor to be satisfied, having undertaken a physical and mental health assessment, that the accused does not have any vulnerabilities and disabilities that impede their ability to understand or effectively participate in proceedings as a condition of using a process enabling a case to be dealt with online without the involvement of the court or magistrate.

Amendment proposed: 20, page 5, line 34, at end insert—

“(e) the prosecutor is satisfied that the accused does not have any vulnerabilities and disabilities that impede the ability of the accused to understand or effectively participate in proceedings, having undertaken a physical and mental health assessment.”

This amendment would require that all accused persons considered for automatic online convictions are subject to a health assessment, and that only those who do not have any vulnerabilities or disabilities are given the option of being convicted online.—(Alex Cunningham.)

Question put, That the amendment be made.

Division number 172 Judicial Review and Courts Bill — Clause 3 — Automatic Online Conviction and Penalty for Certain Summary Offences

A majority of MPs voted not to require a prosecutor to be satisfied, having undertaken a physical and mental health assessment, that the accused does not have any vulnerabilities and disabilities that impede their ability to understand or effectively participate in proceedings as a condition of using a process enabling a case to be dealt with online without the involvement of the court or magistrate.

Aye: 182 MPs

No: 305 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Absent: 156 MPs

Abstained: 1 MP

Absent: A-Z by last name

Abstained: A-Z by last name

The House divided: Ayes 184, Noes 310.

Question accordingly negatived.

Proceedings interrupted (Programme Order, this day).

The Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that time (Standing Order No. 83E).