Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton has welcomed the announcement that those found guilty of abusing children will spend longer behind bars, and has supported a House of Commons Bill that will close a legal loophole previously used by child abusers.
The longer sentences pledge forms part of a new criminal sentencing regime, introduced by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, which will ensure that the most serious criminals stay in prison for longer.
As part of the new sentencing regime sexual offences against children will be placed in the category of ‘most serious sexual and violent offences’. Any person convicted of child sex offences for a second time will therefore be liable to receive a mandatory life sentence, which previously could only be imposed upon those found guilty of murder.
This categorisation also means that child sex offenders will be imprisoned for at least two thirds of their sentence, marking an end to the regime which allowed the release of offenders at the half-way point.
Mrs Newton has previously called for more appropriate sentencing of child sex offenders, following a number of local child sexual exploitation cases.
The toughening up of sentencing is matched the Government’s decision to close a long-standing legal loophole, that has allowed some abusers to escape prosecution entirely.
Previously in cases when a child was clearly being abused in a household containing a number of adults, it was possible for individual adults to avoid prosecution, as no evidence of abuse inflicted by one adult in particular could be found. Households could not be tried collectively and therefore individuals went free.
However the Government has now accepted a Private Members Bill, drawn up by Sir Paul Beresford MP, which amends legislation so that all adults in a household where a child was abused can be prosecuted, either for the abuse or for failing to take steps prevent that abuse taking place.
Mrs Newton, who commended the Bill to the House of Commons, commented:
‘‘I am pleased that progress has been made in ensuring that those who abuse children are brought to trial and receive longer sentences upon conviction.
‘‘I have for a long time been concerned by the unduly lenient sentencing of convicted child sex offenders, and have pressed Ministers on this issue. The new sentencing regime is definitely a step in the right direction.
‘‘I was pleased also to be able to support Sir Paul Beresford’s Private Members Bill, which will mean that more people who abuse children will feel the full force of the law.