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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Cameron backs 'life means life' sentences for murderers | Cameron backs 'life means life' sentences for murderers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron has said "life should mean life" as the government considers US-style 100-year prison sentences for murderers and serious offenders. | David Cameron has said "life should mean life" as the government considers US-style 100-year prison sentences for murderers and serious offenders. |
| The prime minister's comments come as the Conservatives consider alternatives to "whole-life" sentences. | The prime minister's comments come as the Conservatives consider alternatives to "whole-life" sentences. |
| The government is looking at the plan after a European court ruled in 2013 that such sentences breached the European Convention on Human Rights. | |
| The 100-year terms would allow sentence reviews, satisfying the court. | The 100-year terms would allow sentence reviews, satisfying the court. |
| 'Restore respectability' | 'Restore respectability' |
| The proposed change in sentencing regulations for England and Wales comes as Conservative ministers prepare to publish reforms to the UK's human rights laws. | |
| They want Britain's Supreme Court to have the final say in cases relating to human rights, rather than the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. | They want Britain's Supreme Court to have the final say in cases relating to human rights, rather than the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. |
| The ECHR ruled in July that whole-life sentences - allowed under English law - breached the European Convention on Human Rights because they did not include the possibility of a "right to review". | The ECHR ruled in July that whole-life sentences - allowed under English law - breached the European Convention on Human Rights because they did not include the possibility of a "right to review". |
| The government was given six months to respond to the decision, which Mr Cameron has said he "profoundly disagreed" with. | The government was given six months to respond to the decision, which Mr Cameron has said he "profoundly disagreed" with. |
| He told the BBC on Thursday: "There are some people who commit such dreadful crimes that they should be sent to prison. | He told the BBC on Thursday: "There are some people who commit such dreadful crimes that they should be sent to prison. |
| "Life should mean life and whatever the European Court has said we must put in place arrangements to make sure that can continue." | "Life should mean life and whatever the European Court has said we must put in place arrangements to make sure that can continue." |
| One option now being considered by the government is a plan to allow judges to impose jail terms of hundreds of years, which would potentially allow offenders to have their sentences reviewed and reduced. | One option now being considered by the government is a plan to allow judges to impose jail terms of hundreds of years, which would potentially allow offenders to have their sentences reviewed and reduced. |
| Policing minister Damian Green, who leads the committee responsible for drawing up reforms to limit the influence of the Strasbourg court on British life, told The Daily Telegraph: "British laws must be made in Britain. I want to restore the respectability of human rights." | Policing minister Damian Green, who leads the committee responsible for drawing up reforms to limit the influence of the Strasbourg court on British life, told The Daily Telegraph: "British laws must be made in Britain. I want to restore the respectability of human rights." |
| The Prison Reform Trust's Juliet Lyon said the government was trying to "dodge complying with the Human Rights Act". | The Prison Reform Trust's Juliet Lyon said the government was trying to "dodge complying with the Human Rights Act". |
| "It sounds like a dangerous nonsense," she said. "What it risks is further inflation in sentencing. People serving life sentences are serving three years longer than they did 10 years ago." | "It sounds like a dangerous nonsense," she said. "What it risks is further inflation in sentencing. People serving life sentences are serving three years longer than they did 10 years ago." |
| Human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC said that sentencing people to hundreds of years of imprisonment was a "cruel and unusual punishment", and was contrary to the English Bill of Rights of 1689. | Human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC said that sentencing people to hundreds of years of imprisonment was a "cruel and unusual punishment", and was contrary to the English Bill of Rights of 1689. |
| "There is a place for mercy," he added. | "There is a place for mercy," he added. |
| There are currently 52 criminals in England and Wales serving whole-life prison terms. | |
| Mark Bridger, 47, who was sentenced to life in prison in May for the murder of five-year-old Welsh schoolgirl April Jones, has lodged an application to appeal against his sentence. | Mark Bridger, 47, who was sentenced to life in prison in May for the murder of five-year-old Welsh schoolgirl April Jones, has lodged an application to appeal against his sentence. |
| His initial hearing at the Court of Appeal is scheduled for early 2014. | His initial hearing at the Court of Appeal is scheduled for early 2014. |
| 'Unduly lenient' | 'Unduly lenient' |
| Ian McLoughlin, 55, who admitted killing Good Samaritan Graham Buck, 66, in Hertfordshire, while on prison day-release, was given a 40-year sentence in October. | Ian McLoughlin, 55, who admitted killing Good Samaritan Graham Buck, 66, in Hertfordshire, while on prison day-release, was given a 40-year sentence in October. |
| Mr Justice Sweeney, who sentenced McLoughlin at the Old Bailey, said he was barred from passing a whole-life tariff because of the European judgment. | Mr Justice Sweeney, who sentenced McLoughlin at the Old Bailey, said he was barred from passing a whole-life tariff because of the European judgment. |
| Attorney General Dominic Grieve is due to appeal against his sentence, describing it as "unduly lenient". | Attorney General Dominic Grieve is due to appeal against his sentence, describing it as "unduly lenient". |
| On the day of McLoughlin's sentencing, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said whole-life tariffs should be available for "the most serious offenders". | On the day of McLoughlin's sentencing, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said whole-life tariffs should be available for "the most serious offenders". |
| "That is the position clearly stated in our law, and what the public expects. The domestic law on this has not changed." | "That is the position clearly stated in our law, and what the public expects. The domestic law on this has not changed." |
| Lawyers at the Ministry of Justice have confirmed they are looking at whether the law needs to be changed to allow judges to hand down more severe sentences. | |
| Under the US system, very long prison sentences are often imposed by states as an alternative to the death penalty. | Under the US system, very long prison sentences are often imposed by states as an alternative to the death penalty. |
| In August last year, Ariel Castro, who abducted three women and held them captive for more than a decade, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus 1,000 years. | In August last year, Ariel Castro, who abducted three women and held them captive for more than a decade, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus 1,000 years. |
| He was found hanged in his cell in Ohio in September. | He was found hanged in his cell in Ohio in September. |