House agrees risk-based exclusion policy

The House of Commons has agreed to support the implementation of a risk-based exclusion policy for Members of the House of Commons arrested on suspicion of committing a violent or sexual offence.

The new policy sets out steps that can be taken if a Member is arrested on suspicion of committing a violent or sexual offence. A risk assessment will then be carried out by a risk assessment panel, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

The Panel will decide on appropriate measures to mitigate any risk, such as:

• exclusion from the parliamentary estate;
• exclusion from domestic travel funded in whole or in part through the House of Commons Estimate; and
• exclusion from foreign travel funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, through the House of Commons Estimate.

This is part of a series of measures to protect and support members of the Parliamentary community.