An urgent review of sentencing policy has been ordered by
the Prime Minister today (12 August 2019), to ensure the
public are properly protected from the most dangerous
criminals.
The work, to be kicked off immediately, will focus on
violent and sexual offenders and whether they are serving
sentences that truly reflect the severity of their crimes.
It will consider whether changes in legislation are needed
to lock them up for longer – by not letting them out
part-way through a sentence. It will also look at how to
break the cycle of repeat offenders.
The Prime Minister has instructed the Government review
team to report directly to him with recommendations this
autumn.
The review will look at:
- sentencing for the most serious violent and sexual
offenders
- the rules governing when and how these offenders are
released
- sentencing of the most prolific offenders
This confirms a commitment made by the Prime Minister when
he entered Downing Street last month.
It forms part of a Government overhaul of the criminal
justice system to further protect the public – by cracking
down on crime, raising prison standards, rehabilitating
offenders and cutting the vicious cycle of re-offending.
Also today a further £85 million has been awarded to the
Crown Prosecution Service to build capacity and manage
caseloads over the next two years.
The Prime Minister said:
Dangerous criminals must be kept off our streets, serving
the sentences they deserve – victims want to see it, the
public want to see it and I want to see it.
To ensure confidence in the system, the punishment must
truly fit the crime. We have all seen examples of rapists
and murderers let out too soon or people offending again
as soon as they’re released.
This ends now. We want them caught, locked up, punished
and properly rehabilitated.
Later today the Prime Minister will host leaders from the
police, probation and prison sectors to discuss how to cut
crime and improve the criminal justice system.
Yesterday he announced up to £2.5 billion
investment to create 10,000 extra prison places,
starting with the new Full Sutton prison.
This follows announcements to recruit 20,000 new police
officers over the next three years and the Home Secretary’s
confirmation that all 43 police forces in England and Wales
can use enhanced stop and search powers.
