Sarah Everard’s parents and other grieving families are urging for a reconsideration of the term “life sentences” unless they truly mean a lifetime in prison.
The advocacy group Justice for Victims highlighted that there is a misconception among the public about the actual implications of life sentences, stating that many dangerous offenders are not truly locked away for life as commonly believed.
They are urging Members of Parliament to amend the Sentencing Bill currently under parliamentary review to address this issue. The group emphasized that the term “life sentence” should only be used when it signifies a whole-life order, ensuring a lifetime behind bars.
Sarah, aged 33, was tragically murdered in 2021 by Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police officer who received a whole-life term, meaning he will remain incarcerated indefinitely, except in exceptional circumstances.
The campaign group includes other affected individuals like Katie Brett, who lost her 16-year-old sister Sasha to a brutal crime, and Glenn and Becky Youens, who mourn the loss of their four-year-old daughter Violet-Grace in a hit-and-run incident.
Paula Hudgell, part of the group, witnessed her adopted son Tony suffer severe abuse resulting in the amputation of his legs by his birth parents. Ayse Hussein, another member, mourns the loss of her cousin Jan Mustafa due to a tragic incident.
In addition to their plea regarding life sentences, the bereaved families are calling for enhanced rights for victims to be informed and participate in decisions regarding an offender’s supervision, release, or conditions of release. They also advocate for the establishment of a child cruelty register to prevent individuals convicted of child cruelty from working with children or caring for their own.
The Ministry of Justice announced today that amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill will offer increased protection for children against sexual offenders. These amendments, set to be presented to Parliament soon, will automatically limit parental responsibility in cases where children are born of rape or when a parent is convicted of serious sexual offenses against any child.
This change means that a parent found guilty under such circumstances will no longer have the authority to make decisions concerning their child’s education, healthcare, or travel arrangements.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy expressed support for the automatic restriction of parental rights in cases involving rape leading to childbirth and serious child sexual offenses, emphasizing the priority of safeguarding children’s well-being.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson emphasized that the government’s sentencing reforms are aimed at securing the continued incarceration of the most dangerous offenders. These reforms are complemented by an extensive expansion in tagging and the use of restriction zones to enhance victim protection.
The spokesperson clarified that the Sentencing Bill will not impact the most serious offenders, such as those serving life sentences, Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), or extended determinate sentences.