The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will equip the police with the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public, while toughening sentencing for criminals.
The Bill includes:
- Whole Life Orders for child killers, with judges also allowed to impose this punishment on 18 to 20-year olds in exceptional cases.
- New powers to halt the automatic early release of offenders who pose a danger to the public. The Bill also ends the halfway release of offenders sentenced for serious violent and sexual offences.
- Introducing life sentences for killer drivers.
- Serious Violence Reduction Orders – new stop and search powers against convicted knife offensive weapons offenders.
- Enshrining the police covenant in law.
- Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments.
- Doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker from 12 months to two years.
- Ensuring community sentences are stricter and better target underlying causes of crime such as mental health issues, alcohol or drug addiction.
- Increasing the maximum penalty for criminal damage of a memorial from three months to 10 years.