HC Deb 12 March 1970 vol 797 cc358-9W
44. Mr. Hiley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received a report from the Law Commission on its review of the penalties for murder.

48. Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the result of the consideration by the Criminal Law Revision Committee of the question of sentences for the crime of murder; and whether he will review the provisions relating to remission of the sentence available to persons condemned for the murder of a police or prison officer.

Mr. Callaghan

The review which, as I announced last week, I have asked the Criminal Law Revision Committee to undertake, covers the law on, and penalties for, offences against the person generally, as well as homicide. It is bound to take some time. Meanwhile, the penalty for murder is life imprisonment. In determining the period of detention full account is taken of the degree of gravity of the offence, as well as of the protection of the public, and this would especially be so in the case of the murder of a police or prison officer.