Member

The noble Lord’s amendment would require the Crown Court to request evidence, such as reports from social workers. That cannot or would not happen quickly at the point of sentencing. It would inevitably and significantly extend sentencing hearings, making delays in the system even worse, and that would work against what we are trying to do with this measure, which is to provide a streamlined process to protect children. I repeat that Crown Court judges are not trained to make decisions of this kind and they do not have the time. To ask them to replicate procedures of the family court can lead only to more time being needed to consider each case.