Skip to content
Law Society of Scotland
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
  • For members

    • For members

    • CPD & Training

    • Membership and fees

    • Rules and guidance

    • Regulation and compliance

    • Journal

    • Business support

    • Career growth

    • Member benefits

    • Professional support

    • Lawscot Wellbeing

    • Lawscot Sustainability

  • News and events

    • News and events

    • Law Society news

    • Blogs & opinions

    • CPD & Training

    • Events

  • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying as a Scottish solicitor

    • Career support and advice

    • Our work with schools

    • Lawscot Foundation

    • Funding your education

    • Social mobility

  • Research and policy

    • Research and policy

    • Research

    • Influencing the law and policy

    • Equality and diversity

    • Our international work

    • Legal Services Review

    • Meet the Policy team

  • For the public

    • For the public

    • What solicitors can do for you

    • Making a complaint

    • Client protection

    • Find a Solicitor

    • Frequently asked questions

    • Your Scottish solicitor

  • About us

    • About us

    • Contact us

    • Who we are

    • Our strategy, reports and plans

    • Help and advice

    • Our standards

    • Work with us

    • Our logo and branding

    • Equality and diversity

  1. Home
  2. News and events
  3. Legal news
  4. Conservatives propose bill for whole life custody for "worst criminals"

Conservatives propose bill for whole life custody for "worst criminals"

29th May 2019 | criminal law

"In Scotland, courts cannot ensure that the worst criminals are never released from prison", according to Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP, who has opened a consultation on a proposed Whole Life Custody (Scotland) Bill as a member's bill in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Kerr says he wants to give Scottish judges the same power that is afforded to their counterparts south of the border, "to put the worst criminals behind bars for the rest of their lives". While a court should always have the discretion to impose the appropriate sentence based on the facts of each case, "the worst offenders should be in no doubt that they face the severest consequences for their actions, with a whole life custody sentence being the starting point for the most serious murders and sexual offences".

A Scottish Government spokesperson said the Scottish courts already had power to impose a punishment part of a life sentence that could extend beyond the rest of a person's life.

Click here to view the consultation. The deadline for responses is 30 August 2019.

 

Add To Favorites
Law Society of Scotland
Atria One, 144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX
If you’re looking for a solicitor, visit FindaSolicitor.scot
T: +44(0) 131 226 7411
E: lawscot@lawscot.org.uk
About us
  • Contact us
  • Who we are
  • Strategy reports plans
  • Help and advice
  • Our standards
  • Work with us
Useful links
  • Find a Solicitor
  • Sign in
  • CPD & Training
  • Rules and guidance
  • Website terms and conditions
Law Society of Scotland | © 2025
Made by Gecko Agency Limited