Latest news with #IndependentSentencingReview
South Wales Argus
26-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport MP leads calls for women's centre to be opened
The call comes after the Independent Sentencing Review recommended more sustainable and long-term funding for women's centres. The centres are said to "play a critical role in directing female offenders in the criminal justice system to valued practical and emotional help." Ruth Jones, chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee and Newport West & Islwyn MP, said: "Keeping women near to their families and loved ones is vital for successful rehabilitation and reducing reoffending. "Hearing the first-hand experiences of Welsh female offenders at HMP Eastwood Park in England made it undoubtedly clear how much a women's centre in Wales could change lives. "The Independent Sentencing Review highlighted the benefits of providing more sustainable and long-term funding to women's centres. "It's high time that Welsh women be afforded equivalent support within their communities as that provided to their English counterparts and the Government should move quickly to open the planned Swansea centre." Currently, there is no women's prison in Wales, meaning Welsh female offenders are often held in prisons that are a significant distance from family, friends, and community services. The committee intends to analyse the report's findings through the course of its prisons, probation, and rehabilitation inquiry. The Welsh Affairs Committee is responsible for scrutinising the expenditure, administration, and policies of the Wales Office, and the policies of the UK Government as a whole that have an impact in Wales.
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.
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish Government 'considering' chemical castration of sex offenders
The report recommends a range of measures to try and reduce the prison population. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish Government ministers are 'considering' a report on chemically castrating sex offenders, which has been recommended south of the Border as a measure to reduce the prison population. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: 'England and Wales has experienced a significant rise in prison population, which illustrates that Scotland is not alone in facing complex challenges as a result of a rise in the prison population. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dennis Hilton has been remanded into custody pending sentence 'There is no single reason for the increase and there is no single solution to the issue so we will consider the recommendations of the publication of the Independent Sentencing Review in England and Wales as part of our wider work to tackle this issue. 'In Scotland, an independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission is considering how imprisonment and community-based interventions are currently used to help ensure that we have a sustainable prison population over the longer term, and will report by the end of the year.' The Scottish Government's response comes after the UK Government said it was considering the chemical castration of sex offenders. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An independent review, led by former UK justice secretary David Gauke, was commissioned by the UK Government to look at how to reduce the prison population in England and Wales by 9,800 people by 2028. Other measures include releasing well-behaved prisoners after only a third of their sentence. This would involve using medication to suppress the sexual drive of sex offenders and is currently being piloted in southwest England. The report says chemical castration 'may assist in management of suitable sex offenders both in prison and in the community'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs on Thursday she will pursue 'a nationwide rollout, and will first expand the use of the medication to 20 prisons across England'. Currently chemical castration in the prisons in the trial is voluntary, but Ms Mahmood says she is 'exploring whether mandating the approach is possible'.
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
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Violent criminals could be released early and chemical castration pilot expanded after review
PA Media Violent prisoners, including those convicted of sex offences and domestic abuse, could be released after serving just a third of their sentence in a bid to ease prison overcrowding, under new recommendations made in a landmark review. The Independent Sentencing Review also recommends that more offenders are managed in the community instead of serving custodial sentences. The government will expand a small pilot scheme offering voluntary chemical castration to some sex offenders to 20 more prisons after the report said that trial should continue. Former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, who chaired the review, told Radio 4's Today programme that reducing sentences was "the right thing to be doing". Earlier, Gauke said major reforms were needed to "end the dangerous cycle of emergency releases". "The scale of the crisis we are in cannot be understated," he said. "Overcrowded prisons are leading to dangerous conditions for staff and contributing to high levels of reoffending." Last year, thousands of inmates were released early in an emergency measure to deal with prison overcrowding. Eligible prisoners serving more than five years were automatically released after serving only 40% of their fixed-term sentence, rather than the usual 50%. The government then commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review to look into the causes of the crisis, and to consider alternative punishments to custodial sentences. The government previously confirmed it wanted to start work on three new prisons before the end of 2025, and that £4.7bn would be allocated for prison-building between 2026 and 2031 at the government spending review, due next month. But in the report released on Thursday, Gauke warns "we cannot build our way out of" the overcrowding crisis. The government is expected to accept some of the key measures in principle, with further detail to follow in a future sentencing bill. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to respond to the review on behalf of the government in the House of Commons later on Thursday. The review also calls for: Offenders to be given short custodial sentences of less than 12 months in only exceptional circumstances, such as if they don't comply with court orders or to provide respite for victims of domestic abuse The continuation of a pilot scheme providing voluntary chemical castration for sex offenders in the south-west of England Suspended sentences to be allowed for up to three years, and for them to be used more for low-risk offenders with high needs, such as people with substance abuse issues or pregnant women Courts to have greater flexibility to impose fines or travel, driving and football bans More funding for the Probation Service - which supervises offenders serving community sentences or those released into the community from prison - and greater availability of electronic monitoring equipment like tags It also proposes an "earned progression model" for offenders, inspired by reforms in the US state of Texas. The BBC visited a high-security, supermax prison in Texas with Ms Mahmood in February. Under an earned progression model, offenders would progress through three stages: custody, where prisoners are incentivised to behave; post-custody, where offenders are strictly supervised and subjected to licence conditions; and the at-risk stage, where offenders aren't supervised but can be recalled if they offend again. Prisoners on standard determinate sentences - a fixed-length prison term - could move to the post-custody stage after serving one-third of their sentence providing they behave well. If not, they stay until halfway. This could include sex offenders and perpetrators of domestic abuse. As first reported by The Sun, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is seeking to expand the chemical castration pilot for sex offenders to two more regions - a measure she hopes will be a staging post to a full, nationwide rollout. She is also considering whether to make the measure mandatory, rather than voluntary, though no timeline for making this decision has been set. The review recommends that specialist domestic abuse courts should also be expanded to better support victims, and more perpetrators of violence against women and girls should be tagged. Perpetrators of domestic abuse should be more clearly identified at sentencing so that the right interventions are put in place for them to be managed inside and outside prison, it adds. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said the measures, if adopted, would send "a clear message to domestic abusers that they can now offend with little consequence". Campbell Robb, chief executive of prison support charity Nacro, said a move away from short jail terms towards community sentences "could be a genuine game-changer, interrupting the vicious cycle that traps people in prison". However, Justice for Victims said said the report had not taken the views of those impacted by violent crime into account. The campaign group said: "We welcome the extra investment and plans for new prison places from the Government. But there isn't any excuse for letting the worst offenders get out of prison even earlier." Meanwhile, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said "scrapping short prison sentences" amounts to "effectively decriminalising crimes like burglary, theft and assault". BBC News understands that tens of thousands more offenders could be tagged under the proposals, putting further pressure on an already stretched probation system. Although the review recommends more resources for probation, staff say they are worried about being put under even more pressure. One probation officer told BBC News: "We can't cope now, God knows how we'll cope if these recommendations are accepted. I'm already looking for another job. It's just not possible to do all this work." National Association of Probation Officers general secretary Ian Lawrence told BBC Breakfast he welcomed the report but warned the early release scheme "won't hang together" without "desperately needed resources into the probation service". William Morey, who was convicted of murder in 1988 and served a decades-long prison sentence, told BBC News that prisons "are not running properly, because they haven't got the staff to run properly". Morey said he feels deep regret for his crime. "I was really shocked at the levels of self-harm, the levels of violence, the lack of staff, the continual bang up," he said. "I think the thing we need to take into account is, what kind of sentences are these people going to be given, and what kind of help is there in the community for these people?" He also told BBC News that he was worried about the strain it would be put on the "already overwhelmed" probation service. 'Act with bravery' England and Wales has one of the highest prison population rates in western Europe. An interim report from the Review, published in February, found the prison overcrowding problem was driven by successive governments trying to look "tough on crime". Despite overall crime rates declining since the mid-1990s, the prison population in England and Wales almost doubled between 1993 and 2012, while reoffending has remained high, it said. Governments over the past 25 years jailed more criminals, despite evidence that it does not prevent re-offending, the report added. Gauke also previously warned that without radical change, prisons in England and Wales could run out of space again by next Spring. Thursday's recommendations, Gauke says, are "focused not only on bringing the prison population under control but ultimately reducing reoffending and ensuring victims are protected". "Taken as a package, these measures should ensure the government is never again in a position where it is forced to rely on the emergency release of prisoners," he adds. "I urge the Lord Chancellor and Prime Minister to act with bravery in their response." Andrea Coomber KC, chief executive of Howard League - a national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison - supported moves to increase the number of community punishments. She told BBC News that it would be "much better [for offenders to] spend more of their sentence in the community with access to courses, access to support, to housing, education, relationships with families - those things that are proven to stop reoffending". Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond. Prisons UK prisons
