Latest news with #Ex-Tory
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Sex beast killed my cousin & hid her in freezer… why is Starmer ignoring grieving families to let predators out early?
Victims and families of the worst offenders shouldn't be 'collateral damage' in quest to do more to help criminals turn their lives around WOKE JUSTICE Sex beast killed my cousin & hid her in freezer… why is Starmer ignoring grieving families to let predators out early? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I KNOW one day my cousin's murderer will probably be getting out of prison and going back to his family. But Jan is never coming back home to ours. 9 Jan Mustafa, a 38-year-old mother to a then 11-year-old girl, was brutally murdered by Zahid Younis Credit: Supplied 9 Ayse Hussein with her cousin Jan Credit: Supplied 9 Zahid Younis was sentenced to life with a minimum jail term of 38 years Credit: PA My cousin Jan Mustafa, a 38-year-old mother to a then 11-year-old girl, was brutally murdered by a serial serious sexual and violent offender, Zahid Younis. After killing her, he callously kept her body in a freezer in his east London flat for a year alongside another victim he'd murdered - Henriett Szucs. Evidence showed both women had been subjected to very significant violence before their deaths, and Younis was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum jail term of 38 years. Nothing can bring our beautiful Jan back, and the impact of her loss has affected us all in so many ways. But we have to start listening to the views of all victims and the public on what justice means. The Independent Sentencing Review, released this week, was a real opportunity to change that. But Ex-Tory minister David Gauke - the person who led the review - refused to meet us. Mr Gauke's proposals, accepted by the government to free up 10,000 cells in Britain's overrun jails, will see some killers and rapists eligible for release after serving just half of their sentence, rather than two thirds. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is also looking at plans to make chemical castration mandatory for paedophiles and rapists. Other criminals on Standard Determinate Sentences with earlier release points can be freed after just a third of their time if they demonstrate good behaviour. Parents of murdered Sarah Everard plea for more whole-life jail terms for worst offenders 9 Ayse Hussein helped form the Justice for Victims Campaign group Credit: Supplied 9 Jan was the mother of an 11-year-old girl Credit: Supplied 9 The body of Henriett Szucs was also found in Younis' freezer Credit: PA 9 Forensic markers on the bedroom carpet at the home of Zahid Younis in Canning Town, east London Credit: PA But it is hard to believe letting serious offenders like rapists and child abusers out of prison earlier is what victims and their families want. In fact, across the hundreds of pages of the report, there is no discussion at all about what victims and their families might consider to be justice. Of course victims and families shouldn't dictate that, but surely they should be at the heart of that decision? 'Collateral damage' I joined others in forming the Justice for Victims Campaign group because everything I experienced after Jan's murder taught me that victims and their families are not at the heart of the justice system in the way they should be. My co-founders have all had direct experience of serious sexual and violent crime. Jeremy and Susan Everard, the parents of 33-year-old Sarah Everard who was abducted whilst walking home, raped and murdered by police officer Wayne Couzens. Katie Brett, whose 16-year-old sister Sasha was raped and stabbed more than 100 times by her killer before he set her body on fire. Paula Hudgell OBE, who campaigns on behalf of her adopted son Tony, who lost his lower legs as a result of child cruelty at the hands of his birth mother. Becky and Glen Youens, whose four-year-old daughter Violet Grace was killed by a dangerous driver who spent barely more time in prison than their daughter was alive. It is hard to believe letting serious offenders like rapists and child abusers out of prison earlier is what victims and their families want Ayse Hussein Our campaign group is focused on sentencing and ensuring it delivers true justice for victims and their families. We welcome the investment to create new prison places - and of course, offenders leading troubled lives of addiction and mental health issues can sometimes be better off outside of prison. But the victims and families of the worst offenders shouldn't be collateral damage as part of a desire to do more to help those people turn their lives around. Our group will be working with MPs in coming months to make sure they aren't. We aren't getting justice often enough, so please, listen, learn and treat us all the same. Give us what our loved ones deserve. That requires punishment that fits the crime. 9 The parents of murdered Sarah Everard are co-founders of the Justice for Victims Campaign group Credit: PA 9 The group is calling on the government to consider the impact of the Independent Sentencing Review on victims' families Credit: Getty 'Insult' The term 'life sentence' is an insult and often gets reported as 'jailed for life'. But it doesn't mean that at all. There are lots of groups that meet with MPs and talk to the media about all the reasons why criminals should spend less time in prison. We aren't against those who can be reformed receiving help, and we recognise that prison isn't always the best place to do that. But some people cross a line - and when they do, we have to make sure that justice is served. Some people cross a line - and when they do, we have to make sure that justice is served Ayse Hussein I would encourage everyone who agrees with us to contact their MP and make our voices heard. We are up against it and need your support to make the changes. We need to ensure all victims get true justice, and that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes that have so brutally damaged our families truly get what they deserve.
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Paedophiles and other sex criminals will be castrated in tough new crackdown to dull their twisted sexual urges
PAEDOPHILES and rapists are to face chemical castration. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is looking at plans to make it mandatory. Advertisement 5 Paedophiles and rapists are to face chemical castration under a new Labour plan to get tough on sex offenders Credit: Getty 5 Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is looking at plans to make chemical castration mandatory Credit: PA Studies have shown using drugs to dull sex urges can slash offending by up to 60 per cent. A Government source said: 'For too long, we have turned a blind eye to the threat sex offenders pose, considering the solutions too difficult or unpalatable. 'Shabana isn't squeamish about doing what it takes to protect the public. 'As always, she will grab this problem by the proverbials.' Advertisement Recommendations by the Independent Sentencing Review to continue a small voluntary pilot in the South West have been rejected as too soft. Instead it will be expanded to 20 prisons in England and Wales ahead of a planned roll-out nationwide. But The Sun understands Ms Mahmood wants to go further and is exploring the feasibility of compulsory chemical castration. Allies highlighted how US states such as California have castration as a mandatory condition for jailed sex offenders freed on parole. Advertisement And while ministers would start with jailed offenders, insiders say they will explore broadening the scheme to those given suspended sentences. It marks a victory for The Sun's Keep Our Kids Safe campaign to protect children against paedos. Paedo chemically castrated begs for injections to end saying 'I'm sorry' Our demands also include mandatory jail sentences for those caught with the worst Category A images. Many sex offenders currently seek chemical castration proactively. Advertisement It is voluntary in Germany, France, Sweden and Denmark. Ms Mahmood has been won over by various studies, including one showing reoffending rates could be slashed by up to 60 per cent. Chemical castration uses two drugs — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to limit invasive sexual thoughts, and anti-androgens to reduce testosterone and limit libido. Offenders are often given psychiatric sessions to reduce other impulses. Advertisement The plan is part of wider efforts to cut reoffending to ease the strain on packed prisons. Inmates are already being released early to stop jails running out of space by November. Ex-Tory minister David Gauke's Independent Sentencing Review is expected to urge the increased use of suspended sentences, deportation of more foreign offenders and more community punishments. He is also expected to recommend extending maximum suspended sentences from two to three years, and release after a third of sentences. Advertisement Plans to dramatically reduce number of people being locked up in major shake-up THE Independent Sentencing Review has laid out a major shake-up of the justice system - with plans to dramatically reduce the number of people being locked up. The Independent Sentencing Review has laid out a major shake-up of the justice system - with plans to dramatically reduce the number of people being locked up. The move comes after the prison population soared past 87,000, with jails nearly running out of space last year. One of the most controversial proposals is a ban on short jail terms under 12 months, except in what it calls 'exceptional circumstances'. Nearly 45,000 people were jailed for less than a year in the past 12 months alone - but under the new proposals, many would instead be handed so-called tougher community sentences. These include curfews, unpaid work, or being forced to undergo rehab for drugs, alcohol or mental health problems. The plans also push for new types of punishment, including bans from football matches - even for crimes that have nothing to do with football - and restrictions on social media use, particularly in cybercrime cases. These measures, which are usually just bolt-ons to prison sentences, could now be used as punishments in their own right, without any jail time at all. The review also calls for a new 'Probation Requirement' to replace the current rehabilitation rules. It says this would give probation officers more power to tailor punishments and support to each individual - from mental health support to being tagged and tracked in the community. But it admits this would place even more pressure on a probation system already stretched thin. There are also plans to extend suspended sentence rules, meaning some offenders facing up to three years behind bars could now stay in the community instead - as long as they stay out of trouble. Another major change is the introduction of a new 'earned progression' system. Under this plan, prisoners serving standard determinate sentences could be released after serving just a third of their time behind bars, as long as they behave well and take part in work, education or treatment programmes. Those who fail to meet the standards would stay locked up until halfway through. 5 Studies have shown using drugs to dull sex urges can slash offending by up to 60 per cent 5 Ms Mahmood has been won over by various studies Credit: Alamy 5 It marks a victory for The Sun's Keep Our Kids Safe campaign to protect children against paedos Advertisement
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Spy agency MI6 set to appointment first female boss branded ‘sympathetic to China' by critics
A WOMAN is set to take charge of MI6 for the first time in the Secret Intelligence Service's history. Interviews took place last week and the final three candidates were all women, The Sunday Times reports. However, the appointment is controversial because critics say the runaway favourite for the job is too sympathetic to China. She was dubbed 'Beijing Barbara' in Whitehall because she was reluctant to speak out about the Chinese regime as ambassador in Beijing between 2015 and 2020. Ex-Tory leader Read More on UK News Current The other two finalists have not yet been named. Most read in The Sun The winner will be decided by Downing Street declined to comment. 1 Dame Barbara Woodward, ambassador to the UN, is the Foreign Office's most senior woman Credit: Rex Inside top-secret tunnel used by Brit spies before inspiring James Bond films
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Trump begins removing migrants to RWANDA in ‘humiliation' to UK less than year after Labour axed our scheme
DONALD Trump has begun removing migrants to Rwanda — less than a year after Labour axed our deportation scheme. Sir Keir Starmer came under fire last night for scrapping the deal only for the US President to clinch his own. 3 3 An Iraqi man has already been sent to the East African nation, with more due to follow, according to US media. A diplomatic cable touts the possibility of a full-scale 'removal program for third-country nationals'. It suggests the US would pay Rwanda to support housing, bureaucracy and integration costs. Britain signed its deal with Rwanda in 2022 under Boris Johnson's Tory government to try to deter small boat migrants crossing the Channel. But the first scheduled removal flight that year was scuppered by European judges, and the process became mired in legal wrangling, without a single plane taking off. Sir Keir dismissed it as a 'gimmick' and binned the plan on his first day in office, revealing it had cost taxpayers more than £700million. Ex-Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who visited Rwanda during her tenure, said the US move was 'humiliating for the UK'. She added: 'It would have made the British people safer and s topped the boats. "The Americans are showing us what proper border control looks like.' Labour's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper insists she is ramping up deportations of illegal migrants. Robin Perrie travels to Kigali in Rwanda to check out The Hope Hostel 3
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Another Conservative councillor moves to Reform UK
Another member of North Northamptonshire Council has joined Reform UK. Kirk Harrison, the member for Irthlingborough, has defected from the Conservative Party. He becomes Reform's third member on the council. "I firmly believe that Britain needs real change and that Reform UK is best placed to deliver it," Harrison said. In a statement, he added: "This decision was not taken lightly... I remain committed to serving my constituents and will continue to work hard on their behalf, ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed." In December, Ken Harrington, the member for Hatton Park in Wellingborough, joined Reform from the Conservatives while Irchester's Martin Griffiths – who was previously an independent – also joined the party. Council leader Jason Smithers said he respected Harrison's decision, but "it underscores the importance of consistent alignment with the core principles that define our Conservative values". He added: "We recognise that individuals may reassess their political affiliations, and we extend our best wishes to Kirk for his future endeavours." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Two Northamptonshire councillors join Reform UK Ex-Tory councillors form new group on council North Northamptonshire Council
