Statement on the Streatham incident
3 February 2020
Justice Secretary of State, Robert Buckland QC, makes a statement on the Streatham incident which took place on 2 February.
On Sunday 2 February there was an incident in Streatham which resulted in two people being stabbed and another injured. Police have called this a terror-related incident.
'Protecting the public is and has to be the number one priority for this Government'
Robert Buckland made a statement to the House of Commons and has said that the Streatham attack was "senseless". He also paid tribute to the "outstanding" emergency services who ran towards danger to protect the public. He went on to say "protecting the public is and has to be the number one priority for this Government"
He also informed the House that this is an ongoing police investigation, therefore it would not appropriate to comment further until the full facts have been established.
"Clear measures have been announced" to crack down on offenders and to keep people safe. The measures include longer and tougher sentences for serious terrorist offenders.
Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC said:
"I want to pay tribute to the work of our prisons and probation staff. They're dedicated to keeping the public safe. They work tirelessly to try turn lives around even in the face of such a deep-seated ideology."
'Our justice system is in a state of crisis'
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Richard Burgon responded to the statement:
"I also want to pay tribute to our police and emergency services for their professionalism and courage they demonstrated in their swift response to this attack."
Mr Burgon also said the cuts across our justice system, to police, prisons, probation and the Crown Prosecution Service have "left our communities less safe" and has led to our justice system being in a "state of crisis."
He asked whether the Secretary of State for Justice agrees with a former Crown Prosecution Service Chief Prosecutor the counter-terror programmes are "largely under-funded and poorly executed".
- Watch Parliament TV: Statement on the incident in Streatham
- Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.
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