Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has announced a major toughening of sentencing laws, stating that killers who target police, prison, and probation officers will now face whole life orders.
Closing a Legal Loophole
The policy change, unveiled in an amendment to the Sentencing Bill, is a direct response to a high-profile case that exposed a gap in the law. It ensures that any murder connected to an officer's current or former duties will be subject to the harshest possible penalty.
This reform follows the murder of former prison officer Lenny Scott, 33, in February 2024. Mr Scott was shot six times outside a gym in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, by armed robber Elias Morgan.
The Case That Forced Change
Morgan, described as a gangland "executioner," had waited four years to take revenge on Mr Scott for seizing a phone from his cell at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool in 2020. Because Mr Scott had left the prison service by the time of the attack, Morgan could not be given a whole life order, which would have meant he would never be released.
Instead, Morgan was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 45 years. The case prompted Conservative peer Lord Sandhurst to call on the government to address what he termed a "clear loophole" in the law, protecting those who serve the public.
Government's "Full Force" Pledge
Announcing the change in the House of Commons, Mr Lammy, who is also Justice Secretary, was unequivocal. "This government is clear that perpetrators of heinous killings like these must feel the full force of the law," he stated.
"This means offenders can expect to spend the rest of their lives behind bars. It is the latest step this government is taking to keep our hardworking prison and probation staff safe."
Sentencing Minister Jake Richards reinforced the message, condemning what he called "cowardly, vindictive attacks." He said: "Those who murder the people who keep us safe – whether in uniform, off duty or long after they’ve served – deserve nothing less than to spend the rest of their lives in prison. Our message to them is simple: if you target police, prison or probation staff, you will never walk free again."
The government's move is intended to send a powerful signal of support to frontline staff and to deter acts of revenge against those who uphold the law.
