Bedfordshire MP calls for more rights for families of crime victims
He spoke in support of Josh’s Law in Parliament
A Bedfordshire MP is calling on the government to strengthen victims’ families’ rights.
It comes as this month marks ten years since 21-year-old Josh Hanson was stabbed to death.
His killer, Shane O'Brien, evaded police for three-and-a-half years and upon being caught was sentenced to 26 years in prison – only one year more than the minimum sentence.
After Josh Hanson’s parents missed the deadline for appeal the sentence due to “unclear information” about the Unduly Lenient Sentences (ULS) scheme.
His mother, Tracey Hanson, has since started a campaign calling for families of victims of certain crimes to be informed about their right to appeal a sentence both in the lead-up to a trial and as soon as it concludes.
Blake Stephenson, Mid Bedfordshire MP, said: “Historically, victims were at the centre of the justice system. Victims were a driving force in bringing criminal cases and playing a central role throughout the process.
“It wasn’t until the 19th century that there was a significant shift towards state-led prosecutions with the victim’s role in criminal cases significantly diminished.
“The focus has only started to shift back towards the victim with the very recent introduction of the first Victim’s Charter in 1990. I believe that we must recapture more of this focus from the state and divert it to those who are most directly impacted by crime.
“The lives of Tracey and her family will never be the same again. It is only right that they should have been a central focus in the criminal case and received equal rights and information about their rights as the offender did.”
Under the ULS scheme, anyone can ask for certain Crown Court sentences to be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) if they think the sentence is too lenient.
The review will then be conducted by Law Officers and if they agree with the application, they can ask the Court of Appeal to review the sentence.
The request for review must get to the Court of Appeal within 28 calendar days of the sentence.
A sentence can only be considered unduly lenient if it is outside of what a judge “could reasonably consider appropriate” if taking all relevant factors into account.
Mr Stephenson added: “The justification for not changing this approach over many years has been an argument about the finality of sentence, giving the offenders the finality of sentence.
“I’m afraid I don’t think that stacks up today and I think we need to afford victims more rights and more sensitivity in the system.”