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Fugitives face extra jail time under new law | Fugitives face extra jail time under new law |
(35 minutes later) | |
Criminals who go on the run to avoid being sent back to prison could face an extra two years in custody under plans announced by the government. | Criminals who go on the run to avoid being sent back to prison could face an extra two years in custody under plans announced by the government. |
The proposals will target offenders who have been released from prison but abscond to avoid being recalled for breaching their licence conditions. | The proposals will target offenders who have been released from prison but abscond to avoid being recalled for breaching their licence conditions. |
Under current laws, once caught they can be sent back to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence. | Under current laws, once caught they can be sent back to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence. |
There is no additional penalty for going on the run. | There is no additional penalty for going on the run. |
The government plans to introduce legislation that will create an offence of being unlawfully at large following recall to custody, which will carry a maximum two-year sentence. | The government plans to introduce legislation that will create an offence of being unlawfully at large following recall to custody, which will carry a maximum two-year sentence. |
The Ministry of Justice said about 800 criminals a year could face prosecution. | The Ministry of Justice said about 800 criminals a year could face prosecution. |
It is already against the law to escape from jail, not to surrender to custody when on bail, and not to return from release on temporary licence. | It is already against the law to escape from jail, not to surrender to custody when on bail, and not to return from release on temporary licence. |
Making the announcement earlier, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "It is unacceptable that criminals who disregard the law and attempt to evade the authorities are able to do so with impunity. | Making the announcement earlier, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "It is unacceptable that criminals who disregard the law and attempt to evade the authorities are able to do so with impunity. |
"I am today sending a clear message to those people that if you try to avoid serving your sentence you will face the consequences when you are caught. | "I am today sending a clear message to those people that if you try to avoid serving your sentence you will face the consequences when you are caught. |
"From my first day in this job I have been clear that punishment must mean punishment. | "From my first day in this job I have been clear that punishment must mean punishment. |
"We're on the side of people who work hard and want to get on and my message is simple - if you break the law, you will not get away with it." | "We're on the side of people who work hard and want to get on and my message is simple - if you break the law, you will not get away with it." |
However, Labour's shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, said: "David Cameron's government would be better focusing its energies on stopping criminals escaping in the first place. Because of their justice on the cheap, a Category A criminal - the most serious held in our prisons - escaped on their watch, something that never happened during Labour's thirteen years." | |
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the proposals would be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the proposals would be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. |
He said the law was expected to be on the statute books in early 2015. | He said the law was expected to be on the statute books in early 2015. |