§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law so that any person convicted of acts of violence against licensees and their staff should receive an automatic minimum sentence of one year's imprisonment.
§ Mr. John PattenNo. Minimum sentences would reduce the court's ability to take account of the widely varying circumstances of different cases. The Court of Appeal has drawn attention to the need, in sentencing, to protect licensees and their staff as well as others whose work makes them vulnerable to assault.