Lord Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement on their policy towards the release of life sentence prisoners and the release on parole of violent offenders and drug traffickers.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy right honourable and learned friend the Home Secretary intends that twenty years will normally be the minimum period served by those who murder police and prison officers, by terrorist murderers, by sexual or sadistic murderers of children and by those who murder by firearms in the course of robbery. There will be other murders not readily categorised where the heinousness of the1144WA offence requires no less punishment. Some murders will justify yet longer periods in detention. In all cases, risk to the public is the pre-eminent consideration in deciding release.
My right honourable and learned friend also intends to ensure that no one sentenced to more than five years' imprisonment for an offence of violence to the person, or of drug trafficking, is released on parole unless release under supervision for a few months immediately before the end of the sentence is likely to reduce the long-term risk to the public, or in exceptional circumstances.
The Home Secretary is consulting the Parole Board about the precise means of bringing about these policy changes. These consultations are not yet completed and he will make a further more detailed statement shortly.