Shadow Home Secretary to visit Wolverhampton
Nick Clegg MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, will be addressing the West Midlands Regional Conference to be held at St. Edmund's School on Compton Park on Saturday 24th March. In advance of his visit Mr Clegg has commented on the Lord Chancellor's views on the current sentencing rules and the 'whole life' tariffs. He said: "The Lord Chancellor is right to worry about the lack of public confidence in our criminal justice system. One of main reasons for this is the doublespeak used in sentencing. It is difficult for the public to understand that 'life sentences' now average 11 years in prison. 53 so-called 'lifers' sentenced in 2000 have already been released. We urgently need greater honesty in sentencing. Life should mean life only for those most serious offenders whom the courts believe should spend the rest of their days in prison."
