Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme 2023-11-21
2023-11-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns over offences not covered by the unduly lenient sentence scheme, affecting victims of serious crimes.
If the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the unduly lenient sentence scheme to include additional offences. The fact that malicious wounding, actual bodily harm, burglary and even rape, when dealt with in the youth courts, do not come under the scheme is plain wrong.
In 2019 we expanded the unduly lenient sentence scheme to include 14 new offences, including further child sexual offences and coercive or controlling behaviour. We have no immediate plans to extend the scheme further, but we keep it under constant review.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to reviewing specific serious crimes committed by young offenders.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over the unduly lenient sentence scheme not covering certain serious crimes committed by young offenders.
Welcoming the new Minister to his place; The fact that malicious wounding, actual bodily harm, burglary and even rape, when dealt with in the youth courts, do not come under the unduly lenient sentence scheme is plain wrong. Will he please review that situation which time and again lets down the victims of those serious crimes?
The unduly lenient sentence scheme is intended for use in serious cases for offenders sentenced in the Crown court. The Attorney General has the power to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal for review if they believe it is unduly lenient. A youth court can sentence a child to up to two years of detention only.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to reviewing or addressing specific limitations in the scheme.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over up to 25% of criminal barristers leaving the profession in recent years, affecting court backlogs.
Stiffening unduly lenient Crown court sentences is all very well, but there will still be delays in the system if there are backlogs in prosecuting in the courts. Up to 25% of criminal barristers have left the profession over the past five years, so what action are the Government taking to address the exodus of criminal barristers?
In recent years the Government have invested an extra £141 million in criminal legal aid, which should expedite a solution to the situation.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to specific actions or timelines for retaining and recruiting more criminal barristers.
Response accuracy