Crime: Emergency Services Staff

Lord Falconer of Thoroton Excerpts

Thursday 1st October 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, it is for public confidence. We consulted over the summer and there was a wide agreement that the tariffs should go to two years rather than the 12 months.

[Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Lab)]

I associate this side of the House with the sympathy expressed to the families of Sergeant Ratana and Police Constable Andrew Harper. As we have heard from many of the questions asked, serious assault, not-so-serious assault, murder or manslaughter of any emergency worker should be attended by higher sentences. Can the Minister give an assurance that there will be a consultation about differential sentencing for those sorts of crimes, and that it will be published very shortly?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

I am very sorry that I cannot give an assurance on when it will be published but, as with all these things, there will be consultation, and it will be on everything from minor and major assault to murder and manslaughter.