Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Death by Dangerous Driving: Sentencing

Tuesday 21 November 2023 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • James Wild welcomed the Minister to his position and discussed a case where three members of a family were killed by a driver who was later sentenced in June 2023.
  • The Minister noted that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 increased the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving to life imprisonment.
  • Sharon Hodgson raised a case where a young constituent was killed by a driver who received a nine-month sentence, highlighting the family's inability to appeal under the Attorney General's guidelines.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Justice & Courts
Context

In June 2023, Summer Mace's family members were killed in an incident and the offender received a sentence of only 10.5 years, despite Parliament increasing the maximum penalty to life imprisonment.

Question

I welcome my hon. Friend to his position. It is over a year since Parliament legislated to increase the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving to life imprisonment. However, three members of my constituent Summer Mace's family were killed in a horrific incident, and in June the offender got only 10 and a half years. That is totally inadequate. As RoadPeace has shown, far too many sentences are too short. Will my hon. Friend meet me to discuss those sentencing guidelines, so that we can ensure that they reflect what Parliament actually legislated for?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

I was very sorry to hear of the death of Paul Carter, Lisa Carter and Jade Mace in January 2023 in a collision caused by Aurelijus Cielevicius, and the devastating consequences for their family and friends. I know that my hon. Friend has campaigned hard on this issue, and I read his Adjournment debate earlier this month. Sentencing is entirely a matter for our independent courts, based on the facts of each case. In July 2023, after Cielevicius was sentenced, the revised Sentencing Council guidelines for causing death by dangerous driving came into force, following the increase of the maximum penalty introduced by the PCSC Act 2022. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that further, should that be helpful.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to revising sentencing guidelines specifically as requested.

How: Sentencing Is A Matter For Independent Courts

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Q2 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Justice & Courts
Context

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 increased the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving from 14 years to life imprisonment. However, it is too early to assess the outcome of these changes.

Question

If he will make an assessment of the impact of changes in sentencing guidelines on causing death by dangerous driving on the length of sentences.

Answer from Gareth Bacon

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 increased the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving from 14 years to life imprisonment. In June 2023, the independent Sentencing Council published revised sentencing guidelines for motoring offences, including for causing death by dangerous driving. It is too early to assess the outcome of those changes, but we regularly publish sentencing statistics on gov.uk. The Sentencing Council also monitors all guidelines in accordance with its statutory duty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide an assessment of the impact as requested.

How: Too Early To Assess

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Q3 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Justice & Courts
Context

Gregg's family had no right to appeal under the Attorney General's unduly lenient sentence scheme when a man was convicted of causing death by careless driving.

Question

The man who was convicted of causing death by careless driving when he killed my young constituent Gregg was sentenced to only nine months in prison. However, because he was charged with causing death by careless driving, not dangerous driving, Gregg's family had no right to appeal under the Attorney General's unduly lenient sentence scheme. Will the Minister agree to discuss this with the Attorney General and look into revising the scheme to include causing death by careless driving?

Answer from Gareth Bacon

I was very sorry to hear the details of that particular case. I will, of course, be very happy to raise it with the Attorney General.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to discussing the scheme revision as requested.

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