@UKLabour MP for Derby North. Chair of @UKParliament's Justice Select Committee @HoCcommitteesUK.
East Midlands
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A stable home on release helps prevent further crime and means fewer victims.
Yet around 1,000 people a month left prison homeless last year.
Today, I pressed the Government to use the new £432 million rough sleeping funding to break that cycle and make our communities safer.
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My first “Order, order!” as Justice Select Committee Chair and plenty happening across the city - including some very big news for Derby.
Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to 👇
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Working full-time on minimum wage can leave you earning too much for legal aid, yet unable to afford a lawyer.
I’ve tabled an amendment to raise legal aid thresholds before more cases move to magistrates’ courts. Your access to justice shouldn’t depend on your bank balance.
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It is welcome that the Government has listened to concerns about jury trial reforms.
But with magistrates’ court backlogs already going up, a clear plan is needed to meet the increasing demand.
I look forward to the Government response to the Justice Committee’s report on this.
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.@UKLabour is giving breathing space now and hope for the future:
🚌The £2 bus fare cap
⚡VAT off electricity bills this winter
🏠A route to a first home with a 2.5% deposit
🏬Funding to revive derelict high street buildings
🍻Business rates relief for pubs, clubs & music venues.
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Really enjoyed meeting law students at the @DerbyUni Freshers’ Fair. After 17 years as a barrister, it took me back to when I was starting out. That’s why I wanted to turn a false story about my education into some support for local state-school students following the same path.
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Giving every Crown Court in England and Wales a dedicated rape and serious sexual offences courtroom is a real step forward.
I spoke about it during Radio 4's Westminster Hour.
Listen here 👇
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What does chairing the Justice Select Committee actually mean?
I spoke to @BBCDerby about asking the difficult questions, holding the Government to account and working to improve our courts, prisons, probation and access to justice - all whilst continuing to put Derby first.
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Government is deporting more foreign national offenders - and rightly so. Receiving countries must have the information to manage serious offenders and protect victims from harm.
In my first question as Justice Committee Chair, I pressed Ministers on how they’ll deliver that.
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Catherine Atkinson MP retweeted
Congratulations on your election @catkinson80. We look forward to working with you and @CommonsJustice
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My state school education gave me the opportunity to become a barrister.
Now, a false media story about that education will help Derby students follow the same path.
Our justice system is stronger when talent from every background can be part of it.
theguardian.com/education/20…
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Rehabilitation is part of making punishment work.
At HMP Foston Hall, I saw women learning catering skills to help them find work and build a life without crime after release.
Giving more people that route out of reoffending helps make our communities safer.
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Court decisions about a child’s contact with a parent need the right support to work well.
I visited Derby Child Contact Centre to learn how its volunteers help put those decisions into practice, providing a safe setting with children’s wellbeing at its heart.
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At HMP Foston Hall, I saw women learning catering skills with a clear route in mind: training in prison, then work on release.
That pathway can help cut reoffending, mean fewer future victims and save the public the cost of people cycling back through the system.
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At Darley ABC, young people have plenty of positive role models in their corner. A Boxing APPG report highlighted how boxing clubs can reach young people other services struggle to engage and help put them on a positive path - and I loved seeing that in action.
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Prison must punish crime. But the real test is whether it prevents the next one.
As a barrister, I saw offenders return to court again & again. If people leave prison no better equipped to live a law-abiding life, the revolving door keeps turning - and the public pays the price.
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