Rudd: Acid attackers may face life sentence

THE Government is outlining tougher measures to deal with people who carry out acid attacks following a spate of assaults.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said current guidelines would be overhauled, including the possibility of longer sentences, to ensure those who use noxious liquids as weapons would “feel the full force of the law”.

She said: “I am clear that life sentences must not be reserved for acid attack survivors.”

Corrosive

More than 400 acid or “corrosive substance” attacks were carried out in the six months before April 2017, according to figures from 39 police forces in England and Wales.

Five assaults took place in London on one night last Thursday, leading to an outcry from MPs for harsher punishments.

New proposals to tackle acid attacks include classing corrosive substances as dangerous weapons and restricting shop sales of Amber Rudd wants harsher jail sentences liquids such as bleach, ammonia and acid, which are the most commonly used substances. The Home Office is working with police and the Ministry of Justice to determine whether powers available to the courts, such as sentencing, are sufficient. Mrs Rudd said the review would examine existing laws, the response from police, access to harmful produces and support offered to victims. She said: “We will seek to ensure everyone working in the criminal justice system, from police officers to prosecutors, has the powers they need to punish severely those who commit these appalling crimes.” Attacks with a corrosive substance can already lead to life imprisonment. Possession of acid or other corrosive substances currently carries a four-year sentence. Sarah Newton, Home Office minister, will outline the Government’s strategy today. She told Sky News that age limits could be placed on the sale of household corrosive products.