Prisoners serving whole life orders have been banned from marrying under the roll out of a new law.
The law came into force on Friday, banning the worst murderers from marrying behind bars.
Individuals under whole life orders, reserved for exceptionally serious offences involving a substantial degree of premeditation or sexual or sadistic conduct, will now be automatically blocked from getting married or entering a civil partnership.
A decision to enforce the marriage law came after the new Lord Chancellor signed a measure in the Victims and Prisoners Act into law.
It is to deny the most heinous criminals, who have committed offences such as serial or child murder, from enjoying the important life events taken from victims.
But it is hoped the law could also prevent families from the trauma of seeing the inmates getting married.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Victims should not be tormented by seeing those who commit the most depraved crimes enjoy the moments in life that were stolen from their loved ones.
“That is why I have acted as soon as possible to stop these marriages and give victims the support they deserve.”
Previously, prisoners could make a formal application for marriage or a civil partnership under the Marriage Act 1983 or The Civil Partnership Act 2004, with applications rarely refused by a prison Governor - except on the grounds of security concerns.
The Lord Chancellor will now conversely retain the right to permit ceremonies only in the most exceptional circumstances.
Government figures from 2023 revealed only one life prisoner in the UK has applied for marriage in recent years.
Marriages and civil partnerships for all prisoners have also been relatively infrequent. In 2022, 60 prisoners applied to marry in prison from a total prison population of approximately 80,000.
