Up to 43,000 criminals a year are set to miss jail sentences under Labour’s soft-justice masterplan.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans will even see killers and rapists leave jail early, according to Ministry of Justic (MoJ) figures.
Under the plans accepted “in principle” by Mahmood, courts will no longer impose jail terms of less than a year, except in “exceptional circumstances”.
MoJ figures indicate that 79,812 criminals were handed an immediate custodial sentence last year; only 43,322 were sentenced for less than 12 months, excluding those sentenced for breach of a court order.
The plans have been approved ‘in principle’ by Mahmood
PA
Based on 2024 sentencing figures, as many as 11,000 shoplifters, 2,700 burglars, 600 muggers and 160 car thieves could now be handed a community punishment as opposed to prison, under Labour’s measures.
Some 2,500 criminals convicted of carrying a knife or blade could dodge jail time, which could have major implications for tackling knife crime.
More to follow…
