Overview
- Justice Secretary David Lammy announced an amendment to the Sentencing Bill making any murder connected to an officer’s current or former duties eligible for a whole life order.
- The change covers police, prison and probation staff, including attacks motivated by the victim’s role even if the victim was off duty or no longer serving.
- The Ministry of Justice will bring the amendment to the House of Lords in the new year as part of a broader package of sentencing reforms.
- The move follows the 2024 killing of ex-prison officer Lenny Scott, whose murderer, Elias Morgan, was jailed for life with a 45-year minimum because Scott had left the service.
- Ministers including Lammy and sentencing minister Jake Richards said such offenders should expect to spend the rest of their lives in prison, after peers such as Lord Sandhurst urged action.