Katie Brett 

“You hear about people getting a life sentence. The people who really get the life sentence are families like mine. In the end most murderers end up getting out of prison-sometimes as after as little 15 or 20 years. My sister had decades of life ahead of her. Surely if you take a life the starting point should be spending the rest of your life in prison? That’s what we wanted as a family and what would have been respectful of my sister’s memory. I think that’s what most families would want and I think most people would support that.”

 “The whole system seems loaded towards the criminals. In our case, we only had 28 days to appeal the sentence-when we were grieving and traumatised. But criminals are allowed to appeal after this in “exceptional circumstances.” Why don’t victims and their families get this right? This is just one example and I hope working with this group we can start to put justice for victims at the top of the agenda.”

(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-64452648)

Katie Brett’s sister Sasha was murdered in 2013. Aged just 16, she was raped, stabbed more than 100 times, and her body set on fire. Katie and her family believe her killer met the existing criteria for a whole life order but he was only given a minimum sentence of 35 years. Katie has collected more than 10,000 signatures on a petition to remove the 28 day time limit for asking for the sentence to be reviewed in light of the fact there is no such time limit for criminals to appeal.

Paula Hudgell OBE

“When criminals abuse children they are creating a devastating impact for the rest of that child’s life. Many decades can be spent wrestling with the aftermath. Yet perpetrators can be out of prison living a free life whilst the suffering for the victim goes on for decades. We need a justice system that reflects that properly. I have seen so many cases of child abusers that don’t get a punishment that fits the crime. Let alone child murderers – they shouldn’t get out of prison in my view.” 

“It can be really challenging campaigning on your own to get things changed. I was overwhelmed by the support I received from the public but I think a proper group, there all the time, ready to help families like mine that wanted to make a difference will make an enormous difference. I hope the public can bet behind us as I know so many people feel the same way we do.”

(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-64127010 )

Paula Hudgell is the adoptive mother of eight-year-old Tony Hudgell, who had both legs amputated after abuse by his birth parents. Paula campaigned for Tony's Law which came into effect in June last year, meaning abusers could now face life imprisonment but this is only the maximum sentence technically available.

Jeremy & Susan Everard 

“Although nothing can alleviate the sense of loss, it is a relief to us that our daughter's murderer received a whole life order. It made us feel that the enormity of his crime was recognised and that our daughter's life was valued.  We know of other families in similar circumstances who have not had this small comfort; we feel it is important that sentences should truly reflect the seriousness of the crime and give victims, their families and society a sense of justice having been served.”

(https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/sarah-everards-family-welcome-whole-life-order-for-wayne-couzens-3402700) 

The murder of Sarah Everard shocked the nation and caused a wholesale rethink of our approach to violence against women and girls. Very unusually, the perpetrator received a whole life order with no possibility of parole in what Jeremy described “as the only thing to bring them any comfort.” They want to ensure other people also receive justice in similar circumstances to them.

Becky & Glenn Youens

“We recently had the eighth anniversary of Violet-Grace’s tragic death and we find ourselves still fighting for justice. Violet-Grace was in the right place at the right time—it was her killers who were in the wrong place. They took her life without giving her a second chance, yet criminals like these are nearly always given another opportunity after serving their so-called sentences.” 

“Criminals who take the lives of innocent children or abuse them are not getting the sentences they deserve. This has to change. We hope that everyone who agrees will stand with us and support this campaign. Nothing will ever bring Violet-Grace back, but we are fighting in her memory. Her legacy must be real justice for other families who must endure the unimaginable loss we live with every single day.”

(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-61959399) 

4 year old Violet-Grace Youens was killed in 2017 by a hit-and-run driver in a stolen car going 80mph in a 30mph zone. He was in prison just months longer than Violet was alive.  Drivers who kill could now face life sentences as part of changes brought in after a campaign by her parents Becky and Glenn but they frequently serve much shorter sentences.

Ayse Hussein 

“Nothing can bring our beautiful loved one back and the impact of her loss has affected us all in so many ways. The term “life sentence” is an insult and often gets reported as “jailed for life”. It doesn’t mean that at all. I know one day my cousin’s murderer will probably be getting out of prison and going back to his family. Jan is never coming back home to ours.”

“Families are not left to grieve for the loss of their loved one. Instead we have to pick up the pieces of all these failings and errors and to fight and campaign together for change.”

“If someone commits more than one offence it’s almost as if each victim isn’t properly recognised, that they aren’t worth as much, because the sentence is served at the same time. We have to start listening to the views of all victims and the public on what justice means. We aren’t getting justice often enough so listen, learn and treat us all the same. Give us what our loved one deserved – justice.” 

(https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/23892582.murder-victims-families-attend-east-london-crime-event/) 

Ayse is a member of the Killed Women campaign group and campaigns on behalf of her cousin Jan Mustafa. Her killer had raped, tortured and imprisoned various girls and young women and also murdered Henriett Szucs and hid the bodies of both women in a freezer. He did not receive a whole life sentence and will probably leave prison one day.

What we want to achieve

We believe the views of victims, their families and the public should be given more weight in sentencing policy (A survey of 2,057 adults by Savanta found ensuring victims and their families feel justice is done was chosen as the 2nd most important purpose of sentencing after protecting the public from harm - but it is not even one of the official purposes of sentencing).

Our group believe perpetrators of serious sexual and violent offences often don’t spend long enough in prison in light of the impact of their crimes.

Murder is a good example where the evidence of what the public thinks would point to the need for whole life tariffs to be used more often than they are as they are extremely rare but the group believes they should be the starting point. (A survey of 2,057 adults by Savanta found from a range of options that a whole life order was the preferred choice of sentence for murder).

We want to build support from the public and MPs for a change in focus and at this stage wants to start the conversation with policy makers.

We want to speak to everyone from all parties and want to work with all other groups advocating for victims and their families in different ways – but our group would have a unique focus on sentencing policy.

In future we will bring forward specific policy proposals that could include proposals for changes to minimum sentences, sentencing guidelines and other related changes like the 28 day unduly lenient sentence time limit and removal of the term life sentence.

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