Philip Davies: To ask the Attorney-General what guidance he gives to the Crown Prosecution Service on the consideration to be given to the terms of a reconciliation agreed via a Muslim Arbitration Tribunal when deciding whether or not to begin a prosecution for an offence that involves domestic violence.

The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers have not given any guidance to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on this issue. All domestic violence complaints, forwarded to the CPS following a police investigation, are reviewed in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors; prosecutors assess whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and if so, whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

Muslim Arbitration Tribunals are not a part of the criminal justice process, and do not deal with criminal matters. While the views of the victim in any case will always be taken into account, the CPS will not specifically consider the involvement of a Muslim Arbitration Tribunal before deciding on a criminal prosecution for a domestic violence offence.