UK Lawyers Challenge Soft Justice; Government, Justice department Want to Toughen Sentences

United Kingdom government wants to toughen lenient sentences against criminals. More barristers will be placed to take on such cases.

According to the Telegraph Jeremy Wright QC, the Attorney General, revealed an initial plan which will help the cases with 'unduly' sentences to be corrected. The government will let senior members of the Bar to represent the Government in such cases where the courts previously handed soft punishments. Unduly Lenient Sentences (ULS) will let Grade 4 prosecution advocates to be qualified to conduct casework normally reserved for Treasury Counsel. The scheme will be done for six months only since there are several hundreds of barristers in the grade 4 category.

Since the numbers of served easy punishments were doubled, the government made the decision. BT stated that in four years, it rose from 342 in 2010 to 674 in 2014. Attorney General's office also stated that recommendations to the Court of Appeal rose by 42% from 90 to 122 during the same year. Mr, Wright wanted the public to legally challenge lax sentences and to make sure offences are being properly punished. The scheme will also help lawyers to improve their abilities and help the victims and continue the ULS.

The Sun reported that since 2011, an astounding 322 sentences were hardened by judges after appeals on behalf of troubled victims. In 2014 alone, 105 sentences were toughened up. After being let off carelessly, many killers, rapists, drug dealers and child sex beasts have all been locked up for longer period.

Many judges' sentences were strengthened. Judge Martin Joy had four sentences toughened; Judge Francis Gilbert QC has also four sentences overturned. Judge Witold Pawlak had five sentences reversed. There were also judges who resigned like Judge George Moorhouse who had four sentences overturned in the last five years gave up his gavel in September. Judge Michael Addison resigned in March 2014 after having three sentences beefed up in 2013 and two in 2012. 

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UK, UK Law, UK lawyers, soft judges, lenient sentences, barristers, UK government, Unduly Lenient Sentences

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