Whole life tariff

The whole life tariff came into force in 1983 when the British Home Secretary began to set minimum terms that convicted murderers had to serve before being considered for release on life licence. The intention of a whole life tariff was for a prisoner to spend the whole of his or her life behind bars without prospect of parole, although the prisoner could appeal to the High Court or even the European Court of Human Rights to have the tariff reduced.

Related Topics:
1983 - British - Home Secretary

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Successive Conservative and Labour Home Secretaries set whole life sentences for the following convicted murderers (note this list is incomplete):

Related Topics:
Conservative - Labour - Home Secretaries

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In November 2002, new human rights legislation and a law lords ruling stripped the Home Secretary of his powers to set tariffs and the minimum length of a life sentence is now set by the trial judge, although the Attorney General can appeal to the High Court for an unduly lenient sentence to be increased. The move followed a successful legal challenge by convicted double murderer Anthony Anderson, who was jailed for life in 1987 and was told by the trial judge that he should serve at least 15 years. But the Home Secretary later increased this to 20 years. Anderson claimed that his human rights were being breached and the High Court and European Court of Human Rights both agreed.

Related Topics:
Human rights - European Court of Human Rights

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