New, tougher sentences have been proposed to deal with “less sophisticated” yet “equally dangerous” terror plots.
The Sentencing Council, which draws up penalty guidelines for England and Wales, issued the first draft of sentences for terrorism-related offences ever handed to a court.
In view of the heightened terrorist threat in the UK, stricter punishments may now apply to anyone who is even slightly involved in a terror plot.
Under the guidelines, minimum terrorism sentences would extend from the existing minimum of between 21 months and five years, to between three and six years.
The proposals come as the UK has been rocked by five terrorist attacks within a span of just a few months that killed at least 30 and injured many more.
Manchester Arena, London Bridge and Borough Market, Finsbury Park and – most recently – Parsons Green tube station have all been targeted.
Under the new legislation, the use of social media and encrypted communication systems to avoid detection would also amount to an “aggravating factor”, lengthening sentence terms.
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Source: Newsline.