'Trust judges to exercise discretion' - Law Society

27 October 2011

Responding to the news that the Government has set out plans for mandatory life sentences for crimes other than murder Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson said:

“The Law Society has long argued against the mandatory life sentence in cases of murder, and mandatory sentences of imprisonment generally, like those suggested by the Lord Chancellor for 16 and 17 year olds convicted of knife crimes.

“While we agree that Indefinite Sentences for Public Protection are in need of fundamental reform, to expand the mandatory sentence of life to even more offences is not the way to do this. Both measures will erode the sentencing judge's discretion to find the most appropriate penalty for both the offence and the offender. Judges should be trusted to exercise their discretion when sentencing offenders, taking into account Sentencing Guidelines and the maximum penalty laid down by Parliament.”

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