The Scottish Conservatives are the only party to support a bill to ensure the worst criminals in our society will never be let out of jail.
In a Holyrood debate on the subject today, the Scottish Conservatives alone formally declared their support for the Whole Life Custody (Scotland) Bill.
Currently in Scotland, after serving the minimum number of years fixed by the court an offender supposedly sentenced to “life” is automatically considered for release by the Parole Board.
The proposed Whole Life Custody (Scotland) Bill would give Scottish judges the power to impose whole life sentences to those convicted of the most serious violent crimes, including the murder of a police officer.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said:
“Judges should have the ability to put the worst criminals behind bars for the rest of their lives.
“Victims and their families are quite clear that those who commit the worst violent and sexual crimes should face jail for the rest of their lives.
“The other parties must explain why they are opposed to giving victims this certainty.
“Only Ruth Davidson’s Scottish Conservatives will stand up for victims and against the SNP’s soft touch justice agenda.”
