BCL associate Umar Azmeh's recent article on terrorism sentencing, Exemplary sentencing for terrorist offenders: the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 2020, has been published in the most recent issue of the Criminal Law Review ((2021) 1 Crim L.R. 5).
Umar's article closely analyses the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill presently making its way through Parliament, which forms part of the Government's strategy to restructure the terrorism sentencing system. The Bill follows the passing of the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020, emergency legislation which was enacted following the attacks at Fishmonger's Hall and Streatham.
The Bill comprises a sweeping and significant set of reforms which will dramatically increase sentences for those convicted of many terrorism offences, and includes mandatory minimum sentences, a reduction in credit for pleas of guilty in some circumstances, and a new type of sentence for some of the most serious terrorism offenders.
The article goes on to address some of the potential unintended consequences that may transpire should some of the core sentencing provisions of the Bill be enacted into law.
You can read the full article by logging into Westlaw UK or by purchasing a physical copy of the Criminal Law Review.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
