Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to increase sentences on hyper-prolific offenders.

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously, which is why we have asked the independent Sentencing Review to consider how sentences could be reformed to address prolific offending, reduce reoffending, cut crime and ultimately make our streets safer.

Sentencing in individual cases is determined by the court based on the seriousness of the offence: the harm caused (or intended) by the offence and the culpability of the offender. In determining the seriousness of an offence, the court must consider aggravating and mitigating factors.

Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions, and the time elapsed, including:

• Any trends in offending behaviour, including escalation in seriousness.
• The offender’s likelihood to engage in a community sentence.
• Any underlying need driving offending, which might be better addressed via a community sentence or might tip an offence over the custodial threshold.

For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute.