To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to releasing prisoners who have spent 40 or more years in custody.
Answered on
13 March 2017
Any prisoner who has not been released from a sentence imposed 40 or more years ago will be serving a sentence of life imprisonment. As such, their release is a matter for the independent Parole Board who must be satisfied that their detention is no longer necessary for the protection of the public. There is also a power for the Secretary of State executively to release a prisoner if exceptional circumstances exist which justify release on compassionate grounds. If such a prisoner were to make an application for compassionate release it would be considered on its individual merits.