Terror offences to be included in unduly lenient sentencing scheme

Unduly lenient sentences for extremists are to be dealt with under plans announced by the Home Secretary.

Amber Rudd said at the Conservative Party conference that the current unduly lenient sentences scheme will be extended to apply to terror offences currently outwith its remit.

Crimes will include support for banned organisations, possessing information a terrorist could find useful; such as bomb-making instructions in an ISIS magazine, or the encouragement of terrorist acts.

According to the Press Association, Ms Rudd said: “We want to tackle those terrorism cases where judges get the sentence wrong. So we are extending the unduly lenient sentencing scheme to cover all terrorism cases heard in the crown court.”

She also outlined a tougher approach to deporting criminals.

Ms Rudd said: “We will make clear what our courts must take into account when considering the deportation of EU criminals, aligning their fortunes more closely with those from outside the EU.

“And going one step further, for the first time, we will deport EU nationals that repeatedly commit so-called minor crimes in this country.

“So-called minor crime is still crime – its pain is still felt deeply by victims. Now those criminals will face being banned from coming back to the country from between five and 10 years.”