Conservatives vow 'life will mean life' for child murderers under prison sentencing shake-up
2 min read
Adults who murder children face being locked up for the rest of their lives under Conservative plans to shake up the criminal justice system.
The party said that if it wins a majority at the election, those convicted of the pre-meditated murder of a child are handed a "whole life order", meaning they will never be eligible for release.
Under current sentencing guidelines, the Tories say "the vast majority" of child killers are eventually released from prison, despite being handed a mandatory life sentence.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: "There can be no more sickening injustice than that of heartbroken parents watching the killer of their child walk free.
"That’s why under a Conservative majority government the law will be rewritten to be absolutely clear: any murderer who denies a young, innocent child the right to life surrenders their own right to liberty.
"They do so permanently, and they do so without exception.
"There is nothing we can do to take away the pain of the families of murdered children. So we must do everything in our power not to compound it."
The policy is further evidence of the Tories' desire to prove that they are the party of law and order.
At the Conservative Party conference in October, Mr Buckland announced that those jailed for violent and sexual offences will have to serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before being released.
At the moment, those convicted of the most serious crimes are released automatically halfway through their sentences.
The Tories have also pledged to boost education opportunities for prisoners, as well as work coaches in every jail to link inmates with local job centres ahead of their release.
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