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Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 December 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 January 2023. It was answered by Edward Argar (Conservative) on Monday, 9 January 2023 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Homicide: Sentencing

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department last undertook a review of the sentencing guidelines for murder.

Answer

Murder convictions must attract a mandatory life sentence. Schedule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (now Schedule 21 of the Sentencing Act 2020) introduced statutory guidance to be applied by the independent courts when setting the minimum term of imprisonment, which is followed by release on licence.

The Government regularly reviews Schedule 21, most recently as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 which expanded the list of whole life order (WLO) starting points to include the premediated murder of a child and enabled judges to impose a WLO on those aged 18-20 in exceptional circumstances.

Furthermore, in 2021 the Government commissioned an independent expert, Clare Wade KC, to undertake a review of domestic homicide sentencing. The review was delivered to the department in June 2022 and the Government is carefully considering its recommendations and next steps.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
114548
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Homicide Sentencing Reviews
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk