Killer drivers now face life sentences as Justice for Joseph campaign demands become law
After years of campaigning the law has now changed in memory of Rochdale's Joseph Brown-Lartey
Last updated 28th Jun 2022
A campaign in memory of a young Rochdale man who was killed by a dangerous driver has successfully managed to change the law so that stiffer sentences can be handed out by judges.
Joseph Brown-Lartey, 25, died in November 2014 when speeding driver Addil Haroon ran a red light at 80mph in a 30 zone and smashed into his car at a crossroads.
The force of the crash split Joseph's car in two and he died instantly at the scene. The night before Haroon, who was 18 and who only had a provisional licence, had bragged on Snapchat of doing 142mph on the M62.
Justice for Joseph campaign is born
Joseph's parents Ian and Dawn joined forces with Hits Radio reporter Michelle Livesey in calling for a review of the sentencing guidelines after Haroon was given six years for causing death by dangerous driving, for which he served less than three years behind bars.
Together with former MP for Heywood and Middleton Liz McInnes they delivered a petition with tens of thousands of signatures to Downing Street, held debates in the House of Commons, and even, with the help of Road Safety Charity Brake and Greater Manchester Police, drove the wreckage of Joseph's car to London and placed it outside Parliament to hammer home the message that the law needs to change.
In October 2017 the Government agreed and announced it would be bringing in life sentences in the most serious cases of causing death by dangerous driving.
That legislation was included as part of the Sentencing Bill which was given Royal Assent in the Queen's Speech in May.
From today, it means the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving has increased from 14 years to life, and judges will now decide when and how they implement the new legislation.
Sentence was "a slap in the face"
On hearing the news Joseph's dad Ian said, "It's about time. We have always wanted Joseph's legacy to be about helping others. The sentence handed down to the man that killed him was a slap in the face for us as a family, as though Joseph's life didn't mean anything."
He went on to say, "We now hope Judges use these new powers, this new legislation, to stop any more families going through what we have."
The Government faced even more pressure to act following the death of Violet-Grace Youens from St. Helen's. The four-year-old died on March 24, 2017, after being hit by a stolen car travelling at 83mph.
The man behind the wheel was jailed for nine years and four months, again serving half that sentence behind bars. The campaign for Violet's Law forced further debates in Parliament.
Further sentencing rules introduced
As well as toughening sentences for killer drivers, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Acts includes a range of new laws.
Domestic abuse victims will now have more time to report incidents of common assault or battery, and taking non-consensual photographs or video recordings of breastfeeding mothers will be punishable by up to two years in prison. The most violent and sexual offenders, including rapists, will also be forced to spend longer in prison to keep the public safer.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
"This Government is delivering on its commitment to make our streets safer.
"We have changed the law so that dangerous criminals are given the sentences they deserve and kept behind bars, and we are backing the police with the powers they need to keep us safe.
"We are well on our way to getting 20,000 more police officers, and we will continue to support victims seeking justice and bear down on crime so that everyone, in every town, village and city, has the security and confidence they deserve."
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab said:
"From today our new laws will mean serious offenders spend longer in jail, including sex offenders, child abusers and those who kill emergency workers in the course of their duties.
"We are also protecting breastfeeding women from being photographed without their consent and giving the victims of domestic abuse longer to report the crime to the police to help ensure they get justice."
Other sentencing reforms coming into force today include higher maximum penalties for a range of child cruelty offences, known as Tony’s Law. In addition, judges will now be able to impose whole life orders on 18-20-year-olds who commit the worst offences – for example, acts of terrorism which cause mass loss of life.