Written Question: "Two Strikes" and Automatic Life Sentences

Lord Moylan: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the cases of those still subject to the "two strikes” sentence imposed under the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 or the “automatic life" sentence introduced in 2012; and whether there is scope to align their licence conditions with those imposed through the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 on prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, Ministry of Justice (Lord Timpson, OBE, DL): Section 2 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (the 1997 Act) introduced a mandatory life sentence for a second serious offence, meaning judges had to impose a life sentence on anyone convicted of a second specified serious offence, unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Although the ‘two-strike’ life sentence and the IPP sentence can be imposed for similar specified offences, unlike the IPP sentence, the ‘two-strike’ life sentence is a life sentence, and offenders will therefore be subject to licence conditions for life if they are released by the Parole Board. The recent changes to the IPP licence, which can be terminated pursuant to section 31A of the 1997 Act, would therefore not align with this life licence.

We will be launching a review of the sentencing framework. The details of this review will be announced in due course.