Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Child Murders: Sentencing

11 October 2022 · 1 other contributor · 4,699 words

Opened by Kieran Mullan Con Bexhill and Battle

Responding minister: Rachel Maclean

Justice & Courts

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Kieran Mullan raised concerns about child murders: sentencing in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned that current sentencing guidelines for child murderers do not align with public sentiment for life imprisonment.
  • The MP cites cases of Elsie Urry's children and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to illustrate inadequacies in justice delivery.
  • The MP calls for revising guidelines to remove the requirement of significant premeditation for whole-life tariffs in child murder cases.

Key requests to Government

The MP calls for a revision of sentencing guidelines to remove the requirement of significant premeditation for child murderers to receive a whole-life tariff. He asks the government to explain why this restriction was included and suggests that it undermines public confidence in justice delivery.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Kieran Mullan Con Bexhill and Battle

The MP is concerned about the current sentencing guidelines for child murderers, which do not reflect public sentiment that such offenders should spend life in prison. He cites specific cases like Elsie Urry's children who were murdered by David McGreavy and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' murder by Emma Tustin as examples where justice seems inadequate. The MP is worried that the recent Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 restricts whole-life tariffs to cases of significant premeditation, which significantly limits their applicability.

Other contributors (1)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Commends the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate and emphasises that every child murderer should receive life imprisonment, regardless of whether the murder involved abduction or sexual motives. The hon. Member inquired about cases where a child is repeatedly beaten and dies from the cumulative abuse, questioning whether this should be considered murder despite initial lack of intent.

Government Response

Rachel Maclean

Responded comprehensively to concerns regarding sentencing in cases of child murder, emphasizing that all murder convictions lead to life sentences with minimum terms based on schedule 21 of the Sentencing Act 2020. Expanded on how the Policing and Crime (Sentencing and Courts) Act 2022 strengthens penalties for serious offences against children, including raising maximum penalties for cruelty towards under-16s from 10 to 14 years and allowing life imprisonment for causing a child's death. Stressed judicial independence while affirming that the Parole Board reforms aim to increase ministerial scrutiny on release decisions for top-tier offenders, such as those convicted of child murder or causing their deaths.

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