Justice for Joseph - our campaign secures stiffer sentences for killer drivers
Government announces life sentences
Last updated 5th Jan 2018
There's victory for Key 103's Justice for Joseph campaign after our two year fight finally secured stiffer sentences for those who kill on the roads.
We launched our campain following the death of Joseph Brown-Lartey in Rochdale in November 2014.
The 25-year-old was killed when a dangerous driver sped through a red light doing 80mph in a 30 zone, hitting Joseph's car and splitting it in two
Joseph's parent's Ian and Dawn were outraged when the driver 19-year-old Addil Haroon was given a six-year sentence, and was told he'll serve half of that behind bars. The day before causing Joseph's death he sent a snap chat whilst driving at 142mph on the M62.
Together with KEY103's Chief Reporter Michelle Livesey they launched the 'Justice for Joseph' campaign, calling on the Government to review the current sentencing guidelines and subsequently bring in stiffer sentences for those who kill on the roads.
LISTEN: Hear the 'Justice for Joseph' Journey from when KEY 103 first launched the campaign to today's victory:
Working alongside a number of MPs including Greg Mulholland and Liz McInnes KEY 103 managed to get Joseph's case raised in Parliament as part of the Criminal Driving Bill, they took a petition to Downing Street containing over 20 thousand signatures, arranged meetings with the Ministry of Justice and raised the issue with Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
The pivotal moment was when the campaign took the wreckage of Joseph's car, alongside Road Safety Charity Brake, and placed it outside Parliament, to hammer home the message of why a change in the law is needed
Ministers today (Sunday 15th Octover 2017) confirmed that drivers who cause death by speeding, racing,or using a mobile phone could face sentences equivalent to manslaughter, with maximum penalties raised from 14 years to life. Offenders who cause death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs will also face life sentences, and a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving will be created.
The move comes after an overwhelming response to to a government consultation which revealed substantial backing for the plans from a wide range of people including victims, bereaved families and road safety experts.
Justice Minister Dominic Raab said:
“We've taken a long hard look at driving sentences, and we received 9,000 submissions to our consultation. Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims' families, and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences of imprisonment for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, drunk or high on drugs."
On the new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, Dominic Raab said:
"We will introduce a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, punishable by imprisonment, to fill a gap in the law and reflect the seriousness of some of the injuries suffered by victims in this category of case."
The measures were confirmed in a government response to a consultation which will be published tomorrow (Monday 16 October). The consultation sought views on whether current maximum penalties available to the courts should be increased, and received over 1,000 replies in just three days when launched in December last year - reaching more than 9,000 when it closed in February.
The proposals confirmed today include:
In 2016, 157 people were sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving, with a further 32 convicted of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence.
Today’s announcement delivers on the government’s pledge to consider the sentencing powers available to the courts for the most serious driving offences - making sure that punishment reflects the harm caused to victims and their families.
The move forms part of government wide action to improve safety for all road users, following recent devastation caused by irresponsible motorists and dangerous cyclists.
Last month the Department for Transport launched an urgent review to consider whether a new offence equivalent to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be introduced for cyclists