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Sentencing: Crimes of Violence

Volume 493: debated on Friday 12 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of fixed-term sentences for serious violent offences. (278925)

There has been no recent consideration of the merits of fixed-term sentences for serious violent offences. No two cases are the same and the Government believe that the courts should be able to take into account all the circumstances in each case to determine the appropriate sentence. The Government have provided the courts with more options for dealing with serious violent offences, including indeterminate sentences where appropriate: the Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduced a new sentence of imprisonment for public protection for dangerous offenders. Under this sentence, the court sets the minimum tariff to be served by the offender and release is determined by the Parole Board on the basis of the risk presented to the community. The Government believe that this sentence offers the best protection to the public from the most dangerous violent, and sexual, offenders.