William presented the Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill, to the House of Commons for its First Reading, today, (24th June 2015). William was able to present the Bill after being drawn 14th in the ballot of Private Members Bills earlier this month.
His Bill seeks to extend the powers of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to obtain information to aid its investigations. The CCRC investigates alleged miscarriages of justice in England and Wales, 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.
The CCRC already has such powers in relation to public bodies, but believes that the lack of powers in relation to private companies hampers it in its work, particularly since the privatisation of forensic science services. The Scottish equivalent of the CCRC already has similar powers.
Earlier this year, a cross-party group of MPs found the fact that the CCRC had no power to require disclosure on the part of private bodies had hampered some of its investigations. A report published in the last session of Parliament by the Justice Select Committee, recommended that legislation should be introduced as quickly as possible to provide these powers.
The Justice Committee report concluded there was “universal support” for powers to cover private bodies which were “urgently necessary”. In March this year, then Chair of the Committee, Sir Alan Beith MP said: “There has been a failure by successive Governments to grant the CCRC an obvious and much-needed power to require private bodies to disclose documents to it. We could see no good reason as to why it has not been introduced, considering it has universal support”.
Speaking after the Bill received its First Reading William said:
“I was very fortunate to be drawn in the ballot of Private Members Bills in my first year as an MP, particularly as opportunities for backbenchers to introduce legislation are limited and very competitive.
“I wanted to use this opportunity to do some good and improve the justice system in an important way. I appreciate that few people will have even heard of the CCRC, but as anyone who has ever been subject to a miscarriage of justice will attest it is a deeply traumatic and damaging experience. Whilst our justice system is one of the most respected in the world, mistakes can and do happen occasionally; when this is the case the system to right-the-wrong and protect innocent people should be strong.
“As the Justice Select Committee made clear, the limits placed on the CCRS by its governing statute can hinder its working practices and limit its ability to help victims who may be factually innocent. I was therefore compelled to do something about this injustice, and pleased that colleagues on both sides of the House are supporting me.”
William Wragg’s new Bill is supported by MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties including, John Howell and John McDonell who both contributed to the Justice Committee’s report; Labour’s Kieth Vaz, Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee; and Chairman of the Conservative’s backbench ‘1922’ Committee, Graham Brady.
If passed, the Bill would only require private bodies to disclose evidence, in cases where there is a “realistic prospect” that the Court of Appeal will overturn the conviction, and subject to the agreement of a judge in the Crown Court.
William Wragg was drawn 14th in the ballot of Private Members Bills, which takes paces each year, and allows backbench MPs to pass legislation on sitting Fridays. The Bill is now scheduled to have its Second Reading in the House of Commons on Friday 4th December.