§ 34. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide for higher mandatory sentences for those found guilty of offences of cruelty to children.
§ Mr. MellorWe are satisfied that the penalties available to the courts for dealing with offences of cruelty to children (including assaults and sexual abuse) are adequate; the most serious offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Mandatory sentences would restrict the power of the courts to take into account all the circumstances of a particular case when passing sentence.