Since I became the MP for Dartford in 2010, I have campaigned on extending the scope of the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. The ULS scheme allows anyone, including the victim of a crime or a member of the public, to appeal to the Attorney General for a sentence to be reviewed and possibly increased if it is deemed to be too lenient.
In Justice Questions, I again raised this issue stating that the offences of malicious wounding, ABH, burglary and even rape when dealt with in the Youth Court, do not come under the scheme. As the Youth Court can only pass a sentence of up to two years, any sentences that fall under this are not covered by the scheme. I asked the Minister to review the situation which lets down the victims of these serious crimes.