§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the law to provide for a mandatory sentence of not less than 20 years' imprisonment without remission for violent crimes involving a firearm and resulting in the maiming of a police officer.
§ Mr. MayhewNo. For all offences falling short of murder, Parliament has entrusted the courts with power to decide what sentence is appropriate within the maximum allowed by law, having regard to the nature of the offence of which the accused has been found guilty and to all other relevant circumstances; we think it right that they should have this discretion. The maximum penalty for using a firearm with intent to resist arrest is life imprisonment.