Jake Richards acknowledges ‘unimaginable pain’ of Harper’s family but says government faces an ‘unenviable position’
Justice minister Jake Richards said the government “cannot carve out every single offence people might want us to” amid claims a loophole means historical child sex abusers will still be eligible for early release from prison.
Asked about The Times reporting that the rules will not apply to child sex offences that took place before the law changed in 2003, Richards told Sky News:
Well, we’ve set out and published all the offences which have been now carved out of the new scheme that begins in October.
Those are all online, several pages. But what we have been very clear is that we cannot carve out every single offence that people might want us to do so.
They weren’t thought through. There was no preparatory work at all done by the government because they were essentially running a system which was out of control, and that this is fundamentally different.
This is something I certainly would consider. But like I said, I urge the government now.
I do think that the public opinion is overwhelming in this matter, but I think it’s unfair and I do believe confidence in the criminal justice system risks being damaged.
