This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50618744

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
London Bridge attack sparks terror sentence release review London Bridge attack sparks terror sentence release review
(32 minutes later)
An urgent review of the licence conditions of people jailed for terror offences has been launched by the Ministry of Justice following Friday's London Bridge attack.An urgent review of the licence conditions of people jailed for terror offences has been launched by the Ministry of Justice following Friday's London Bridge attack.
Two people were killed and three were injured by Usman Khan, 28, a convicted terrorist who served half of his time. Two people were killed and three were injured by Usman Khan, 28, a convicted terrorist who served half his time.
PM Boris Johnson claimed scrapping early release would have stopped him.PM Boris Johnson claimed scrapping early release would have stopped him.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will blame budget cuts for "missed chances to intervene" in a speech on Sunday.But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will blame budget cuts for "missed chances to intervene" in a speech on Sunday.
As many as 70 people convicted of terror offences, who have been released from prison, could be the focus of the government review.As many as 70 people convicted of terror offences, who have been released from prison, could be the focus of the government review.
Khan, 28, who was shot by police during Friday's attack, was jailed over a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange in 2012.Khan, 28, who was shot by police during Friday's attack, was jailed over a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange in 2012.
He was sentenced to indeterminate detention for "public protection" with a minimum jail term of eight years.He was sentenced to indeterminate detention for "public protection" with a minimum jail term of eight years.
This sentence would have allowed him to be kept in prison beyond the minimum term.This sentence would have allowed him to be kept in prison beyond the minimum term.
But in 2013, the Court of Appeal quashed the sentence, replacing it with a 16-year-fixed term of which Khan should serve half in prison.But in 2013, the Court of Appeal quashed the sentence, replacing it with a 16-year-fixed term of which Khan should serve half in prison.
He was released on licence in December 2018 - subject to an "extensive list of licence conditions", Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said.He was released on licence in December 2018 - subject to an "extensive list of licence conditions", Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said.
"To the best of my knowledge, he was complying with those conditions," he added. 'Repulsive'
'Mandatory minimum sentence' The prime minister told the BBC's Andrew Marr show it was "repulsive" that someone as "dangerous" as Usman Khan could be released from prison after "only serving eight years".
Visiting the site of the attack on Saturday, the prime minister said the practice of cutting jail sentences in half and letting violent offenders out early "simply isn't working". He blamed Khan's release on legislation introduced under "a leftie government", insisting the automatic release scheme was introduced by Labour - but was challenged about what the Conservatives had done to change the law over the past 10 years in government.
"If you are convicted of a serious terrorist offence, there should be a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years - and some should never be released," he said. "I opposed it both in 2003 and 2008, and now that I am prime minister I'm going to take steps to make sure that people are not released early when they commit... serious sexual, violent or terrorist offences," Mr Johnson said.
"Further, for all terrorism and extremist offences, the sentence announced by the judge must be the time actually served - these criminals must serve every day of their sentence, with no exceptions." "I absolutely deplore that fact that this man was out on the streets... and we are going to take action against it."
Mr Corbyn told Sky terrorists should "not necessarily" serve their full sentences automatically, but that it "depends on circumstances". Mr Johnson said there are "probably about 74 people" who had been subject to early release following serious offences, adding that action had been taken immediately following London Bridge attack "to ensure there is no threat to the public".
Mr Johnson has vowed to "toughen up" sentencing for violent offenders, if the Conservatives win the general election on 12 December, but the Liberal Democrats have accused him of "politicising" the tragedy. How the law on early release changed
2003 - The Criminal Justice Act meant most offenders would be automatically released halfway through sentences, but the most "dangerous" would have their cases looked at by a Parole Board. Sentences with no fixed end point, called Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), were also introduced.
2008 - Criminal Justice and Immigration Act removed review process by Parole Boards, meaning more offenders were released automatically halfway through sentences. Judges could still hand down life sentences or IPPs for dangerous offenders.
2012 - Usman Khan was handed a sentence with no fixed end date because of the risk he posed to the public. In the same year, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act scrapped IPPs and reintroduced the role of the Parole Board for extended sentences of 10 years or more - this time after two-thirds of the sentence has passed. But that did not mean those already serving IPPs would have them lifted.
2013 - During an appeal, Lord Justice Leveson ruled that Khan's indeterminate sentence should be substituted for an extended sentence with automatic release at the halfway point.
Also speaking on Sunday, Mr Corbyn told Sky terrorists should "not necessarily" serve their full sentences automatically, but that it "depends on circumstances".
He called for more funding for prisons "so that prison officers are able to do their job" and for the Parole Board to be involved in the release decision.
He said UK needs a probation service "worthy of the name", arguing probation services have been partly privatised and are now "not up to scratch".
Both parties have been accused of politicising the attack.
Mr Davey, Liberal Democrat deputy leader, told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that he was "alarmed" at Mr Johnson's reaction to the London Bridge attack.Mr Davey, Liberal Democrat deputy leader, told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that he was "alarmed" at Mr Johnson's reaction to the London Bridge attack.
"In the middle of an election, we shouldn't be making political capital out of a tragedy, and he's doing that, and he's doing that in a way which is misleading people about what the law actually says.""In the middle of an election, we shouldn't be making political capital out of a tragedy, and he's doing that, and he's doing that in a way which is misleading people about what the law actually says."
Liberal Democrat candidate and former Labour MP Chuka Umunna criticised the two main parties for "seeking to use a terrorist incident as a political football".
The father of Jack Merritt, one of two victims who died in the attack, said in a now-deleted tweet that his son "would not wish his death to be used as the pretext for more draconian sentences or for detaining people unnecessarily".The father of Jack Merritt, one of two victims who died in the attack, said in a now-deleted tweet that his son "would not wish his death to be used as the pretext for more draconian sentences or for detaining people unnecessarily".
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that David Merritt should be listened to, declaring "nobody wants to see the politicisation of this".Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that David Merritt should be listened to, declaring "nobody wants to see the politicisation of this".
But he added: "The question is, who is going to make sure that the overriding priority is avoiding any unnecessary risk to the public?"But he added: "The question is, who is going to make sure that the overriding priority is avoiding any unnecessary risk to the public?"
"I think if you look at what we're saying on sentencing... it is the Conservatives who are saying we will stop at nothing to keep people safe.""I think if you look at what we're saying on sentencing... it is the Conservatives who are saying we will stop at nothing to keep people safe."
Khan was living in Stafford and wearing a GPS police tag when he launched his attack inside Fishmongers' Hall, where he was one of dozens of students and offenders attending a conference hosted by Learning Together, a prisoners' rehabilitation programme.Khan was living in Stafford and wearing a GPS police tag when he launched his attack inside Fishmongers' Hall, where he was one of dozens of students and offenders attending a conference hosted by Learning Together, a prisoners' rehabilitation programme.
The attack then continued onto London Bridge itself.The attack then continued onto London Bridge itself.
Mr Merritt, a course co-ordinator for Learning Together, was one of two people fatally stabbed. A woman who also died has not yet been named.Mr Merritt, a course co-ordinator for Learning Together, was one of two people fatally stabbed. A woman who also died has not yet been named.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said three victims remained in hospital following the attack - two in a stable condition and one with less serious injuries.NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said three victims remained in hospital following the attack - two in a stable condition and one with less serious injuries.
Mr Basu said officers had been working "flat out" to try to establish the "full circumstances" of the stabbing.Mr Basu said officers had been working "flat out" to try to establish the "full circumstances" of the stabbing.
How the law on early release changed
2003 - The Criminal Justice Act meant most offenders would be automatically released halfway through sentences, but the most "dangerous" would have their cases looked at by a Parole Board. Sentences with no fixed end point, called Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), were also introduced.
2008 - Criminal Justice and Immigration Act removed review process by Parole Boards, meaning more offenders were released automatically halfway through sentences. Judges could still hand down life sentences or IPPs for dangerous offenders.
2012 - Usman Khan was handed a sentence with no fixed end date because of the risk he posed to the public. In the same year, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act scrapped IPPs and reintroduced the role of the Parole Board for extended sentences of 10 years or more - this time after two-thirds of the sentence has passed. But that did not mean those already serving IPPs would have them lifted.
2013 - During an appeal, Lord Justice Leveson ruled that Khan's indeterminate sentence should be substituted for an extended sentence with automatic release at the halfway point.