Queen's Speech December 2019 - Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill

Thursday, 19 December 2019 12:34

Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill “New sentencing laws will ensure the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists, serve longer in custody” The purpose of the Bill is: ● To ensure that the most serious terrorist offenders stay in prison for longer. The main benefits of the Bill would be: ●...Request free trial

Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill

“New sentencing laws will ensure the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists, serve longer in custody”

The purpose of the Bill is:

● To ensure that the most serious terrorist offenders stay in prison for longer. The main benefits of the Bill would be:

● To give the public greater confidence that the sentences served by terrorists reflect the severity of their offending and the risk they present.
● To ensure the most serious and dangerous terrorist offenders spend longer in prison before they are released on licence.

The main elements of the Bill are:
- ● Tougher sentences for the most serious terrorist offenders and a 14-year minimum for the worst terrorist offenders.
- ● Removing the possibility of any early release from custody for dangerous terrorist offenders who receive an Extended Determinate Sentence (EDS).
- ● Moving the earliest point for discretionary release by the Parole Board from half-way to two thirds for terrorist offenders who are not deemed “dangerous” and therefore do not receive an EDS.
- ● Measures to strengthen licence supervision for terrorist offenders. Territorial extent and application
  
  Key facts and statistics

● In the year to 30 September 2019 there were 44 convictions for terrorism- related offences. 17 received custodial sentences of between four and ten

● The current intention is that the Bill’s provisions would extend and apply across the whole of the UK. Although the creation of terrorism offences and penalties are reserved matters, sentencing policy is devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland. UKG will therefore consult with the relevant DAs in relation to any changes to their own regimes for dealing with dangerous offenders.

years, five received a sentence of ten years or more, and one offender received a life sentence.

● There is a range of sentences available for serious terrorist offenders:

o A life sentence – offender spends minimum period or “tariff” in prison before considered for release by the Parole Board. The offender may therefore never be released. If released, offenders spend the rest of their life on licence and can be recalled to custody.

o Extended Determinate Sentence – offender becomes eligible to be considered for release by the Parole Board from the two-thirds point but can serve the full term in prison if assessed not to be safe to release earlier. The custodial term is followed by an extended period on licence for on-going public protection (of up to eight years for terrorist offenders).

o Sentence for Offenders of Particular Concern - Release is at the discretion of the Parole Board between the half-way and end point of the custodial period, with an additional 12 months licence period at the end.