The Government has announced a major overhaul in response to terrorism. This will include new tougher sentences and additional resources to keep people safe.
The new measures announced will force offenders to serve the entirety of their sentences, and introducing tougher sentences for the most serious terrorist offenders. This will include a mandatory minimum of 14 years in prison. It will also require prisoners under consideration for release to undergo a lie detector test.
The Government has also planned a £90 million boost to counter-terror police, and an extra £500 million to help victims of terrorism. The number of specialist counter-terrorism probation officers will also increase from 60 to 135.
These measures will keep dangerous criminals behind bars and keep them effectively monitored following release to keep society safe.
This follows the attack at Fishmongers Hall last November where the attacker was released early from prison.
Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said of the announcement:
“The senseless terror attack at Fishmongers’ Hall confronted us with some hard truths about how we deal with terrorist offenders.
“Today we are giving police and probation officers the resources they need to investigate and track offenders, introducing tougher sentences and launching major reviews into how offenders are managed after they are released.”
Security expert, Professor Anthony Glees of Buckingham University, said:
“I think it is a major step forward.
“Anything that makes people think twice about trying to hoodwink probation officers is worth the investment. This package of measures is extremely tough but is proportionate to the threats we have seen recently.”
Commenting on the announcement, local MP Caroline Dinenage said:
“I strongly welcome this announcement by the Government.
“Recent events have shown the horrific nature of terrorism and it is right that we do everything within our power to prevent it, and to ensure that terrorist offenders cannot re-commit such atrocities. The announcement by the Government today is a big step forward in safeguarding the public.”
