Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shabana Mahmood and David Simmonds

Tuesday 3rd June 2025 Commons Chamber

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con)]

16. What discussions she has had with the Sentencing Council on sentencing guidelines for immigration offences.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Shabana Mahmood)]

Ministers meet regularly with the chair of the Sentencing Council. On the specific guidelines for immigration offences, the hon. Member will know that they set a minimum sentence, but no maximum. Judges can still sentence as they see fit within the limits of what the law allows, and foreign criminals can still be deported, even if they are sentenced to less than 12 months.

[David Simmonds]

As the shadow Justice Secretary heard when he visited on Friday, criminal gangs are imposing a significant cost on Hillingdon, which has the highest level of asylum seekers per capita of any local authority, because the council has to support asylum seekers who have been smuggled into the UK. What plans does the Justice Secretary have to ensure that we have tougher sentences that are fit for purpose, so that our communities do not face this burden in the future?