MINIMUM SENTENCING

Early day motion 644, tabled 16 January 2007 by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House expresses concern that the current criminal justice system is still weighted in favour of the offender and not the victim; notes the case of the rapist of a young boy who was sentenced to serve a minimum of six years in prison allowed after appeal to apply for parole after five years; recognises that such serious offences should receive a far longer minimum sentence; and calls on the Government to introduce new legislation imposing longer minimum sentences on serious sex offenders and re-balancing the criminal justice system in order to provide greater protection to the public.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Conservative 8, Liberal Democrat 5, DUP 1.