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Chronicle Live

National

Neil Shaw & Aaron Morris

All the UK laws that start and change today - from driving changes to full life sentences

United Kingdom Boris Johnson Police Domestic Abuse

Changes in the law which will hopefully see safer streets due to more stringent sentences for the worst offenders have came into force today - with whole life orders among the new measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts acts.

Whole-life orders will now be the most severe punishment available at the UK criminal justice system's disposal as a starting point for pre-meditated child murder.

Mandatory life sentences for the unlawful killing of emergency workers, as well as ending the automatic early release of offenders deemed dangerous to the public are also part of the act, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that the reforms aim to 'make our streets safer'.

Hull Live reports that domestic abuse victims are to in-turn get more time to report common assault or battery crimes to police. A new breastfeeding voyeurism offence will also see those taking photos and videos of nursing mothers without consent handed up to two years behind bars also.

There is also an aim that the most violent and sexual offenders, including rapists, will also be forced to spend longer in prison.

Downing Street say the laws should make the streets safer (AP)

Mr Johnson said: “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.”

The punishment for anyone assaulting emergency workers, including prison officers, has been doubled to a maximum of two years, while Harper's Law will see anyone convicted to the killing of an emergency worker while committing a crime have the book thrown at them with a mandatory life sentence.

This follows after a campaign by Lissie Harper - the widow of PC Andrew Harper. He tragically passed away from injuries after being caught in a strap attached to a getaway car and dragged down a winding county road, as teenage killers fled a Berkshire quad bike theft in 2019 -

Henry Long, 19, was subsequently sentenced to 16 years behind bars, while 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were given 13-year custodial sentences for the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police traffic officer. All of whom were cleared of murder by a deliberating jury.

Cruelty offences have also seen sentencing reforms, with higher maximum penalties of life imprisonment for those who cause or allow the death of a child or vulnerable adult within their care.

As well as this, dangerous drivers who end the lives of Ministry of Justice (MoJ) states can potentially now also receive life sentences. The maximum penalty could be bestowed upon those who drive dangerously and cause a casualty, as well as those who do so while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs - while a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving has also been created.

Whole life orders on 18 to 20-year-olds involved in terrorism which cause mass loss of life can no also be ruled, with child murderers seeing new starting points for the decision to a minimum amount of time in custody based on age and seriousness of offence.

There will also be fewer opportunities for over 18 year-olds who committed murder as a child to have their minimum term reviewed. An offence of intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance is now available in an effort to crack down on disruptive “guerrilla protests”.

These are the sort of tactics which have been used by climate change protesters who have taken their campaigns to the streets. The MoJ says the police will also be supported with new powers to tackle non-violent protests that have a significant disruptive effect on the public or on access to Parliament.

Profoundly deaf people who need a BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter are to be able to sit on juries. Current laws ban which ban the presence of a “stranger” being in the jury deliberation room will be scrapped to enable a BSL interpreter into the room.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “We are delivering on the people’s priorities. Whether it’s tackling knife crime, violence against women and girls or anti-social guerrilla protest tactics, these measures are all about backing the police and standing up for the law-abiding majority of the British public.”