Lord Dholakia Portrait

Lord Dholakia

Liberal Democrat - Life peer

Became Member: 24th October 1997


Human Rights (Joint Committee)
31st Jan 2023 - 30th May 2024
Justice and Home Affairs Committee
14th Apr 2021 - 31st Jan 2023
EU Security and Justice Sub-Committee
23rd Apr 2020 - 31st Mar 2021
EU Justice Sub-Committee
15th Jan 2019 - 23rd Apr 2020
Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
19th Jan 2009 - 9th May 2019
Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill
14th May 2013 - 16th Dec 2013
Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill (Joint Committee)
14th May 2013 - 16th Dec 2013
Party Chair, Liberal Democrats
1st Jan 2001 - 31st Dec 2004
House of Lords Offices Committee
6th Dec 1998 - 11th May 2001


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Dholakia has voted in 18 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Lord Dholakia Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(2 debate interactions)
Lord Keen of Elie (Conservative)
Shadow Minister (Justice)
(1 debate interactions)
Lord Timpson (Labour)
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
(1 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(2 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Lord Dholakia has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Lord Dholakia's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Dholakia, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


7 Bills introduced by Lord Dholakia


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.The 2010-12 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to amend the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; and for connected purposes.

Lords Completed

Last Event - 3rd Reading: House Of Lords
Wednesday 23rd November 2011

A bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility; and for connected purposes.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading : House Of Lords
Friday 29th January 2016

A Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility, and for connected purposes.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Lords
Friday 8th November 2013

A Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 15th June 2021
(Read Debate)

A bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 4th February 2020
(Read Debate)

A Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility; and for connected purposes.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading : House Of Lords
Thursday 9th June 2016

First reading took place on 16 January. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled. A bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility; and for connected purposes.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Wednesday 16th January 2013

Lord Dholakia has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 3 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
4th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of businesses that have been refused insurance because of incidents of retail crime.

The Government has not made an assessment. Insurers make decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. Individual insurers may take a different view of the relevant factors in determining whether to offer insurance and at what price.

However, the Government recognises that shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers to do this.

The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect hardworking and dedicated staff, and end the effective immunity that has been granted to shop theft of goods under £200. As set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government also will provide over £7 million over the next three financial years to help police tackle retail crime and support local businesses.

Lord Livermore
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
4th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to require police to record the value of stolen goods in cases of “low-value shoplifting” within the meaning of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Under the previous Government, shop theft soared to record highs and it continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this.

The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

Section 176 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2024 has created the perception that offenders and would-be offenders can get away with shop theft of goods of and under £200. We will repeal the relevant provision relating to "low value shoplifting", ensuring the police treat shop theft of any value in the same way, whilst sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal. We will continue to work closely with the police to combat retail crime, including through our Retail Crime Forum.

As set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, we will provide £100k of additional funding next financial year for the National Police Chiefs' Council to give further training to police and retailers on prevention tactics. We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime. This will build on funding provided this financial year to the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, for development of training materials for both police and retailers to help combat retail crime and promote partnership working.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether new police recruits will be trained on the impact of retail crime on victims.

Under the previous Government, shop theft soared to record highs and it continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this.

The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

Section 176 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2024 has created the perception that offenders and would-be offenders can get away with shop theft of goods of and under £200. We will repeal the relevant provision relating to "low value shoplifting", ensuring the police treat shop theft of any value in the same way, whilst sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal. We will continue to work closely with the police to combat retail crime, including through our Retail Crime Forum.

As set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, we will provide £100k of additional funding next financial year for the National Police Chiefs' Council to give further training to police and retailers on prevention tactics. We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime. This will build on funding provided this financial year to the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, for development of training materials for both police and retailers to help combat retail crime and promote partnership working.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)