This question was answered on 16th December 2016
A life sentence is mandatory for murder and the courts must follow statutory guidance on determining the minimum term, or tariff, in these cases. A life sentence must be imposed for a second, very serious, specified violent or sexual offence – for example, manslaughter, GBH with intent, rape, and sexual assault on a child under 13 - unless the court finds that there are particular circumstances relating to the offence or the offender which would make it unjust to do so. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent judiciary.
The average tariff given to offenders receiving all mandatory life sentences and life sentences for murder, England and Wales, 2005 to 2015, can be viewed in the table. The total number of offenders receiving a life sentence is published in the criminal justice system statistics quarterly bulletin on gov.uk.
Table: Average tariff(1) given to offenders receiving mandatory life sentences and life sentences for murder, England and Wales, 2005 to 2015(2)(3) | | | | | | | | | | Mandatory life sentences(5) | | | | | (average tariff, years) | | | | 2005 | 15.7 | | | | 2006 | 17.4 | | | | 2007 | 16.2 | | | | 2008(4) | 18.9 | | | | 2009 | 18.3 | | | | 2010 | 19.2 | | | | 2011 | 19.3 | | | | 2012 | 20.6 | | | | 2013 | 21.1 | | | | 2014 | 20.7 | | | | 2015 | 21.2 | | | . = No automatic life sentence given or all tariff lengths missing | | | Source: Court proceedings database | | | | | | | | (1) Averages exclude tariffs that are missing or whole life (recorded as ‘99 years’ in the data). | | (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Please note that there is variable completeness of recorded tariff length over the years, with lower completeness in certain years. | | | | | (3) Data are given on a principal disposal basis - i.e. reporting the most severe sentence for the principal offence. | | (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008. | | (5) Includes life sentences for murder and automatic/two-strike life sentences: s2 Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, s122 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 | | (6) This includes all life sentences for murder. | | | | | | | Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. Ref: PQ 42915 | | |
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