Reform UK has unveiled a hardline policy proposal that would see anyone convicted of raping a child sentenced to a mandatory 'whole life' order, ensuring they would never be eligible for parole.
A New Mandatory Minimum for 'Heinous' Crimes
The party's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, announced the plans, stating the intention is for mandatory minimums to apply to historic child sexual abuse as well as recent offences. This move, he argued, would guarantee that the most severe crimes against children are met with proportionally severe punishment.
Under the existing legal framework, judges already have the discretion to impose life sentences for such crimes. The offence range for raping a child under 13 is typically between six and 19 years. However, a whole life order is a distinct and more extreme measure, reserved for cases where the crime is deemed so grave that the offender should die in prison, with no minimum term set for parole consideration.
The Current Sentencing Landscape
According to the latest Ministry of Justice data from 2024, there were 677 convictions for the rape of children under 16. Reform UK has sharply criticised the current sentencing trends, with Mr Yusuf claiming that under Conservative governments, the average sentence for raping a child under 13 fell to around nine years.
He went further, alleging that "some grooming gang child rapists have received sentences as low as four years" and accused the Labour government of releasing violent offenders early from prison. "It is a stain on our national conscience that grooming gangs were allowed to operate for years with impunity," he stated.
As of March 2025, the Sentencing Council reported there were 70 whole-life prisoners in England and Wales. Notable individuals serving such orders include serial child killer Lucy Letby, police officer Wayne Couzens who murdered Sarah Everard, and terrorist Ali Harbi Ali who killed MP Sir David Amess.
Policy Context and Government Response
Reform UK stated that the cost and capacity implications of its proposed sentencing change have been factored into its wider prison strategy. This includes plans to deport foreign criminals and construct new 'Nightingale' prisons to free up space.
In response to the announcement, a Government spokesperson defended the current system, emphasising that "sentencing sits with the independent judiciary", who can and do impose long terms, including life sentences. The spokesperson highlighted the Government's ongoing overhaul of child protection and the creation of a legal duty to treat grooming as an aggravating factor in sentencing.
They also noted that the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is now underway, aiming to secure answers for victims and survivors.
