Rishi Sunak vows to keep Britain's most depraved killers behind bars for life with no chance of release under new plansOfficials said the change will also apply to all sexually motivated murders
By Brendan Carlin Political Correspondent
Updated: 20:43 EDT, 26 August 2023
Life will mean life for the most depraved killers, with no chance of release under plans unveiled by Rishi Sunak today.
The Prime Minister vowed to change the law to require judges to hand down mandatory whole life orders to those guilty of the most horrific murders.
Officials said the change, which would be put into effect in England and Wales, will also break new ground by applying to all sexually motivated murders.
That would have meant that Jordan McSweeney, who was sentenced last year to a minimum of 38 years for the murder and attempted rape of Zara Aleena in East London, would never be eligible for parole.
Last night, Mr Sunak said he shared the public's horror 'at the cruelty of crimes we have seen recently' and added that people rightly expected 'life will mean life'.
Life will mean life for the most depraved killers, with no chance of release under plans unveiled by Rishi Sunak today
That would have meant that Jordan McSweeney, who was sentenced last year to a minimum of 38 years for the murder and attempted rape of Zara Aleena in East London, would never be eligible for parole
'They expect honesty in sentencing,' he added. 'By bringing in mandatory whole life orders for the heinous criminals who commit the most horrific types of murder, we will make sure they never walk free.'
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said: 'A whole life order will now be the expectation for murderers where the killing involves sexual or sadistic conduct. This important law change will ensure that the worst of the worst can expect to spend the rest of their lives in prison.'
The new sentencing plan is expected to form part of the Government's new programme of laws, which will be unveiled in November's King's Speech.
Mr Sunak's pledge came as Ministers claimed violent crime has fallen by 46 per cent since 2010 and neighbourhood crime by 51 per cent.
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