Terrorists who plan mass killings to face tougher sentences under new guidance

20 October 2021, 00:57

The proposed guidance was welcomed by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab
The proposed guidance was welcomed by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab. Picture: Alamy

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Terrorists who plan attacks that could lead to many deaths may face at least 14 years in prison under new sentencing guidelines.

The Sentencing Council will on Wednesday set out proposed guidance to judges on how they should apply the new mandatory minimum jail term which became law earlier this year.

The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 created a new category of "serious terrorist offences" amid concerns offenders convicted of planning attacks were receiving relatively light sentences.

READ MORE: Fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess declared terrorist incident, Met Police confirm

READ MORE: Neo-Nazi jailed for plotting to kill Asian friend who he likened to a 'cockroach'

It stipulated those who are found guilty under the new category should face a minimum of 14 years' custody - with an extension period to be served on licence of between seven and 25 years - unless there are "exceptional circumstances".

In its guidance, the Sentencing Council will say it should apply when a court finds there is "a significant risk" to the public of "serious harm occasioned by the commission by the offender of further serious terrorism offences".

It should also cover cases where the offence "was very likely to result in or contribute to (whether directly or indirectly) the deaths of at least two people" - the so-called "risk of multiple deaths condition".

The proposed guidance - which will be subject to a consultation which runs to January 11 - was welcomed by Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.

"These proposed guidelines will support judges to pass consistent and appropriate sentences in terrorism cases," he said.

"Those who kill and maim in the name of warped and fanatical ideologies will spend longer behind bars, because public protection is our top priority."

The council's lead member for terrorism offences, Mrs Justice Maura McGowan, said: "Terrorism offences are serious criminal acts that are constantly evolving, and the law is regularly updated in line with the changing nature of the offences, requiring a new approach to sentencing.

"The council is proposing revisions to existing sentencing guidelines to reflect the new legislation and ensure that the courts have comprehensive and up-to-date guidance for dealing with these extremely serious cases."

The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act was drawn up after the 2019 Fishmongers' Hall attack by Usman Khan, who killed two people after being released from prison on licence while serving a sentence for involvement in a plan to set up a terrorist training camp.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Know your limits this summer, Brits have been warned

‘Know your limits’: Brits heading to the Euros this summer warned against drinking ‘too much German beer’

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

Sam Bankman-Fried has been jailed for 25 years for a $8bn crypto fraud

'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for 25 years for stealing billions of dollars from his customers