William Wragg MP, the Conservative MP for Hazel Grove, has been successful in securing the passage through the House of Commons for a new piece of legislation which could help correct miscarriages of justice and wrongful convictions.
Today ( 5th February) the House of Commons debated Mr Wragg’s Private Members Bill, known as the Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill at its third and final reading. At the end of the debate the Bill received support from all political parties and was voted through unanimously.
William Wragg’s Bill seeks to extend the powers of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to obtain information to aid its investigations. The CCRC in an independent body which investigates alleged miscarriages of justice and can refer cases to the Court of Appeal.
The Bill contains provisions which would allow the CCRC to make an application to the courts to require disclosure of new evidence held by private bodies, such as banks, companies, solicitors and individuals.
William Wragg said during the debate:
“This important power to request privately held information is currently lacking and hampering the important work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The limits placed on the CCRC by its governing statute have occasionally hindered its work and limit its ability to help victims who may be factually innocent.
“Although the British system works well for the vast majority of cases, mistakes do occasionally happen. We have a moral duty to help these people and ensure such incidents are minimised. And to ensure that where mistakes are made they are swiftly and thoroughly investigated without hindrance so that justice can be served.”
Responding on behalf of the Government to the Bill, Justice Minister Dominic Raab, said:
”I would like to add my congratulations to the MP for Hazel Grove for getting the Bill to this stage. The Bill may be modest in size but will make a significant contribution to the effective workings of our criminal justice system.”
The changes of William’s Bill would correct a 20 year old legislative anomaly arising from an oversight in the Criminal Appeals Act 1995, and would also bring the law in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, into line with Scotland, which already has similar powers.
The Bill will now be considered in the House of Lords, and will be led by Crossbench Peer, and former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Lord Ramsbotham. If the Lords pass it in the next couple of months it will receive Royal Assent and so become law by the Summer Recess.