Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out as follows:
Number Automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and Possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent) of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given as follows:
Year of release Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified part—period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by parole board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months (inclusive) 2 Over 18 months—up to two years (inclusive) 9 Over two years—up to two years six months (inclusive) 9 Over two years six months—up to three years (inclusive) 7 Over three years—up to three years six months (inclusive) 9 Over three years six months—up to four years (inclusive) 10 Over four years—up to four years six months (inclusive) 5 Over four years six months—up to five years (inclusive) 0 Over five years—up to five years six months 0 Over five years six months—up to six years (inclusive) 0 Over six years 0
[holding answer 19 June 2006]: Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out as follows:
Number Number of automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent)of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given as follows:
Year of release Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified part—period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by Parole Board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months (inclusive) 2 Over 18 months—up to two years (inclusive) 9 Over two years—up to two years six months (inclusive) 9 Over two years six months—up to three years (inclusive) 7 Over three years—up to three years six months (inclusive) 9 over three years six months—up to four years (inclusive) 10 over four years—up to four years six months (inclusive) 5 Over four years six months—up to five years (inclusive) 0 Over five years—up to five years six months 0 Over five years six months up to six years (inclusive) 0 Over six years 0
[holding answer 20 June 2006]: Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, in the following table.
Number Automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent) of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given in the following table.
Year of release Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the table below. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified part - period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by parole board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months 2 Over 18 months—up to two years 9 Over two years—up to two years six months 9 Over two years six months—up to three years 7 Over three years—up to three years six months 9 Over three years six months—up to four years 10 Over four years—up to four years six months 5 Over four years six months—up to five years — Over five years—up to five years six months — Over five years six months—up to six years — Over six years — 1 Inclusive
Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out in the table:
Number Number of automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and Possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent)of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence. Information on releases per year is given in the table:
Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the "specified part". Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified par— period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by Parole Board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months (inclusive) 2 Over 18 months—up to two years (inclusive) 9 Over two years—up to two years six months (inclusive) 9 Over two years six months—up to three years (inclusive) 7 Over three years—up to three years six months (inclusive) 9 Over three years six months—up to four years (inclusive) 10 Over four years—up to four years six months (inclusive) 5 Over four years six months—up to five years (inclusive) 0 Over five years—up to five years six months 0 Over five years six months up to six years (inclusive) 0 Over six years 0
Of the 23 life licensees referred to in the previous answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), 21 had been convicted of murder, one of manslaughter and one of robbery and possession of a firearm. Four of the 23 offenders unlawfully at large at the beginning of June when the information was collated are now back in custody. Police continue to pursue vigorously all information and lines of enquiry in order to find these offenders and effect a swift return to custody. Details of the time that the original 23 licensees have been out of contact with the probation services are set out in the following table:
Time Number of offenders 6 months or under 5 Over 6 months—up to 12 months1 5 Over 12 months—up to 2 years1 3 Over 2 years—up to 4 years1 3 Over 4 years—up to 6 years1 4 Over 6 years—up to 8 years1 1 Over 8 years—up to 10 years1 1 Over 10 years 1 Total 23 1 Inclusive