High Wycombe mum of murdered student Libby Squire welcomes tougher sentencing for sexual crimes
Plans to force some offenders to spend their whole life behind bars were announced in yesterday's King's Speech.
Last updated 8th Nov 2023
Lisa Squire, from High Wycombe, mum of Libby Squire who was murdered in Hull, has said she welcomes tougher sentencing for serious offences, including sexual crimes.
Plans announced in yesterday's King's Speech would see offenders committing murder with a sexual or sadistic motive receive a whole life sentence with no parole, meaning they would spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
Lisa Squire said: "In our case he got a minimum of 27 years, but he's not living the life sentence, I am, my husband is, my other three children are."
"I welcome anything that gives increased sentences to murderers and rapists so if they are looking at doing that and actually carrying it through then I am all for it.
"...if you take a life you should forfeit your life in prison."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "In the most despicable cases, these evil criminals must never be free on our streets again. Life needs to mean life."
Libby Squire was raped and murdered by Pawel Relowicz on February 1 2019 while studying at the University of Hull. He received a life sentence with a minimum jail term of 27 years, after which he will be eligible for parole.
Lisa Squire said: "I think all people who murder should actually spend the rest of their life in prison, if you take a life you should forfeit your life in prison."
"Justice is about doing the right thing for the victim and the families and I don't think we do enough for that."
Under the new plans, he would not be eligible for parole and would be spending the rest of his life in prison.
Labour's shadow justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood said the government was simply repackaging policies that had already been announced, adding: "There's no use posturing on law and order when the criminal justice system is crumbling under the government's feet after 13 years of mismanagement."
The King's Speech also included plans to create statutory aggravating factors which would lead to longer sentences for members of grooming gangs or those who murder their partner.