The government’s flagship “KEEP THE MOST DANGEROUS OFFENDERS IN PRISON FOR LONGER” draft Bill has been published.
It
(a) doesn’t apply to the most dangerous offenders *at all*;
And
(b) applies to even fewer of the other prisoners than the government previously said it would.
It
(a) doesn’t apply to the most dangerous offenders *at all*;
And
(b) applies to even fewer of the other prisoners than the government previously said it would.
Here’s what the Justice Secretary told the Daily Mail two weeks ago to the day.
Note that contrary to his promise that the new release provisions would apply to serious sexual and violent offenders sentenced to more than 4 years in prison, that’s not what the Bill says.
Note that contrary to his promise that the new release provisions would apply to serious sexual and violent offenders sentenced to more than 4 years in prison, that’s not what the Bill says.
For one, the provisions only apply to offences carrying life imprisonment. Plenty of serious sexual and violent offences do not carry life imprisonment. So they are out of scope.
Secondly, rather than applying to sentences of 4 years+, the Bill refers to sentences of 7 years+.
Secondly, rather than applying to sentences of 4 years+, the Bill refers to sentences of 7 years+.
So why shout so loudly about a Bill that affects a relatively tiny number of offenders? It’s because the govt wants to boast about making the law “tougher”, but secretly recognises (as it has to) that courts already have all the powers they need to deal with dangerous offenders.
POST-SCRIPT: But just because it affects a relatively tiny number of offenders doesn’t mean it’s cheap. To the contrary, this vanity project will cost the taxpayer around £100m a year once it kicks in.
That is money that the justice system desperately needs, and now won’t get.
That is money that the justice system desperately needs, and now won’t get.
