§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many convicted offenders have been sentenced under each of the three categories of mandatory sentence in conformity with the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997; and on what dates were the provisions brought into force. [HL4673]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonSection 2 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (now Section 109 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000) provided for an automatic life sentence for a second serious sexual or violent offence. Section 3 of the 1997 Act (now Section 110 of the 2000 Act) provided for a minimum seven years' imprisonment for a person convicted for a third time of a Class A drug trafficking offence. These provisions were both implemented on 1 October 1997. Section 4 of the 1997 Act (now Section 111 of the 2000 Act) provides for a minimum sentence of three years' imprisonment. This was implemented on 1 December 1999.
We have a record of 260 life sentences imposed under what is now Section 109 of the PCC(S)A. We only have reliable figures for sentences imposed under what is now Section 110 of the PCC(S)A for the period from December 1999 to June 2000 inclusive. During that period, four offenders were sentenced under that provision. There have been no sentences under what is now Section 111 of the PCC(S)A.