Member

On amendments 4 to 7 in relation to the unduly lenient sentence scheme, the current scheme allows certain sentences to be referred to the Attorney General’s Office if they are thought to be too lenient. That is an important safeguard in our justice system. I have made use of it, as have other Members and members of the public as well, but too many victims and families simply do not know the scheme exists, and even when they do, the time limits are far too tight for it to work in practice. Currently, people only have 28 days from the date of a sentence to ask for review; that is four short weeks at what is often one of the most traumatic and confusing times in their lives. For families who have just been through a difficult and emotional trial, 28 days is no time at all to understand the process, get advice and decide whether to ask for a review.