Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme

Thursday 4 February 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The unduly lenient sentence scheme allows the Minister to intervene personally in cases where a sentencing judge is believed to have made a gross error.
  • Martin Vickers expressed that his constituents believe too many sentences are too lenient and asked if the Law Officers and Government have plans to ensure public confidence in sentencing.
  • The Minister reassured that the judiciary is admired globally for its impartiality, intelligence, independence, and intellectual rigour, which is crucial for the rule of law.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP is concerned about the effectiveness of the unduly lenient sentence scheme in ensuring justice.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the unduly lenient sentence scheme?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The unduly lenient sentence scheme is a vital safeguard in our criminal justice system. It permits me to intervene personally in a case where I consider that a sentencing judge has fallen into a gross error and imposed a sentence that is outside the reasonable range. Sentencing judges do get it right the vast majority of the time, but in those rare cases where they get it wrong, this is a very good scheme that ensures that justice is served.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any recent assessment or statistics on the effectiveness of the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

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Q2 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP is concerned about public perception that sentences are too lenient, affecting trust in the judicial process.

Question

I thank the Minister for his reply, but it is my constituents' view and, I think, the view of constituents up and down the country that too many sentences are too lenient. Do the Law Officers and the Government have any plans to ensure that sentences are at a level that ensures public confidence in the judicial process?

Answer from Michael Ellis

I know that my hon. Friend speaks for his constituents and always has done. It is right to say, though, that our judiciary is admired around the world for its impartiality, intelligence, independence and intellectual rigour. It is of essential importance to the rule of law. I can, therefore, reassure my hon. Friend, and reiterate to him that it is rare for judges to get sentencing wrong. It is, of course, important that sentences reflect the seriousness of offending, and I have gone to court myself on several occasions to seek referral of sentences where we have felt they have been too low. However, generally speaking, he will find that sentences meet the gravamen of the crimes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific plans or commitments from Law Officers or Government regarding overly lenient sentencing.

How: It Is Right To Say, Though, That Our Judiciary Is Admired Around The World For Its Impartiality, Intelligence, Independence And Intellectual Rigour.

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