Public get more say on terror sentences
THE public is being given greater powers to challenge soft jail sentences for terrorists.
Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which already covers the most serious terror offences and crimes including murder and rape, anyone can ask the Attorney General to examine sentences they believe to be very low.
The cases can then be sent to the Court of Appeal, which determines whether sentences should stay the same or be increased.
From August 8 the scheme will be extended to 19 more offences including encouraging terrorism and sharing terrorist propaganda.
It comes as the family of off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, who was killed in the Manchester bomb attack in May, called for tougher laws to cover terror suspects.
After her funeral at Chester Cathedral yesterday, her sister, Lynda, 49, pointed out that the bomber Salman Abedi, 22, was known to the authorities, adding: ‘I would like to see changes so that we have more resources and more powers to ensure any suspects… are not allowed back on to our streets to wreak havoc and devastation.’