Downing Street Says » Director of Public Prosecution

» Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Director of Public Prosecution

Asked if the views of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on lower degrees of murder without mandatory sentences came as a surprise to the Prime Minister the PMOS said that the DPP was an independent figure and therefore it was right and proper that the DPP aired his own views. In terms of response to them there was, as we had already announced, a murder review getting underway and no doubt his views would be part of the consideration of that. Asked again if it was a surprise the PMOS said that it would be a surprise to him if the DPP had done anything other than air his own independent views. It was important that he was independent and we would not in anyway suggest that he was anything other than an independent figure. Equally though we had announced a review and his views would be taken into account. In response to the suggestion that the only thing in the Manifesto about murder was a recent Criminal Justice Bill to ensure that for the most heinous murders life meant life, but that there was nothing in it to seek a mandate for removing life tariffs the PMOS said that it was correct that the policy for murder was that life meant life. In terms of not compromising on mandatory sentences for murder we announced the review on murder and people should wait to see what came out of that. Asked about timing for that review and whether there was a deliberate decision to not begin that review till after the election the PMOS said that the review was only just getting underway and therefore it was best to be given time to take place. In terms of when the review started the election was part of the consideration but now that it was out of the way things could continue.

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