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Whole life terms for police killers - home secretary Whole life terms for police killers - home secretary
(35 minutes later)
Criminals who kill police officers in England and Wales will face compulsory whole life sentences, Home Secretary Theresa May is to propose. Criminals who kill police officers in England and Wales will face compulsory whole life sentences, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.
She will unveil plans for a change in legislation at the Police Federation conference in Bournemouth. She unveiled plans for a change in legislation at the Police Federation conference in Bournemouth.
The current minimum sentence for a police murder is 30 years.The current minimum sentence for a police murder is 30 years.
The Police Federation said: "We support any move that means a true life sentence will be applied to anyone who murders a police officer."The Police Federation said: "We support any move that means a true life sentence will be applied to anyone who murders a police officer."
Mrs May will announce that the government is to propose that the minimum term should be increased to life without parole. Mrs May announced that the government is to propose that the minimum term should be increased to life without parole.
The home secretary will tell rank-and-file officers: "To attack and kill a police officer is to attack the fundamental basis of our society. The home secretary told rank-and-file officers the murder of a police officer was "a particularly appalling crime".
"To attack and kill a police officer is to attack the fundamental basis of our society," she said.
"We ask police officers to keep us safe by confronting and stopping violent criminals for us. We ask them to take risks so that we don't have to."We ask police officers to keep us safe by confronting and stopping violent criminals for us. We ask them to take risks so that we don't have to.
"That is why I am clear that life should mean life for anyone convicted of killing a police officer." "And sometimes you are targeted by criminals because of what you represent."
According to the Home Office, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 permits Justice Secretary Chris Grayling - following consultation with the Sentencing Council - to make an order to change starting points. She added: "We are clear - life should mean life for anyone convicted of killing a police officer."
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 permits Justice Secretary Chris Grayling - following consultation with the Sentencing Council - to make an order to change starting points.
This would permit him to change the starting point in this instance from 30 years to a whole life order, meaning offenders could not be released other than at the discretion of the secretary of state on compassionate grounds - for example, if they are terminally ill or seriously incapacitated.This would permit him to change the starting point in this instance from 30 years to a whole life order, meaning offenders could not be released other than at the discretion of the secretary of state on compassionate grounds - for example, if they are terminally ill or seriously incapacitated.
'Severe penalty''Severe penalty'
The Sentencing Council, the official body that oversees sentencing in England and Wales, issues guidelines for judges and magistrates to work to for all offences other than murder.The Sentencing Council, the official body that oversees sentencing in England and Wales, issues guidelines for judges and magistrates to work to for all offences other than murder.
A spokesman said: "Introducing whole life tariffs for those who murder police officers would involve changes to the law, which is a matter for Parliament, rather than the Sentencing Council. A spokesman said: "Introducing whole life tariffs for those who murder police officers would involve changes to the law, which is a matter for Parliament, rather than the Sentencing Council."
"Government does not have a duty to consult the council, but may choose to." But he confirmed that the government had a duty to consult with the council before new legislation could be brought in.
The Sentencing Council says that, as things stand, whole life orders can be imposed in murder cases "if the court decides that the offence is so serious that the offender should spend the rest of their life in prison".The Sentencing Council says that, as things stand, whole life orders can be imposed in murder cases "if the court decides that the offence is so serious that the offender should spend the rest of their life in prison".
Police Federation chairman Steve Williams said: "The public need to have confidence that the criminal sentence they read about in the paper is the sentence the offender completes.Police Federation chairman Steve Williams said: "The public need to have confidence that the criminal sentence they read about in the paper is the sentence the offender completes.
"There is no hierarchy when it comes to victims of murder, however police officers risk their lives on a daily basis confronting danger on behalf of others."There is no hierarchy when it comes to victims of murder, however police officers risk their lives on a daily basis confronting danger on behalf of others.
"Would-be offenders must know that they will receive the most severe penalty possible.""Would-be offenders must know that they will receive the most severe penalty possible."
Shadow policing minister David Hanson, meanwhile, said: "The killing of a police officer is a particularly heinous crime that should be punished with the severest possible sentences."Shadow policing minister David Hanson, meanwhile, said: "The killing of a police officer is a particularly heinous crime that should be punished with the severest possible sentences."
"We will support any efforts to achieve that aim," he added."We will support any efforts to achieve that aim," he added.
Mrs May, who will face a question and answer session after her speech, was heckled at last year's conference after she told officers to "stop pretending" they were being singled out and would "have to make their share" of public spending cuts.Mrs May, who will face a question and answer session after her speech, was heckled at last year's conference after she told officers to "stop pretending" they were being singled out and would "have to make their share" of public spending cuts.
Chief Inspector of Constabulary Tom Winsor, who is behind hotly debated changes such as fast-track recruitment and lower annual pay for new constables, will also address officers.Chief Inspector of Constabulary Tom Winsor, who is behind hotly debated changes such as fast-track recruitment and lower annual pay for new constables, will also address officers.
On Tuesday, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the three-day conference that government plans to withdraw from the European Arrest Warrant agreement would make it harder to catch criminals who went on the run abroad.On Tuesday, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the three-day conference that government plans to withdraw from the European Arrest Warrant agreement would make it harder to catch criminals who went on the run abroad.