Human Rights Act reform ruled out

[killah]

Human Rights Act reform ruled out

Press Association

Thursday July 20, 2006 6:28 PM

The Human Rights Act will not be repealed or reformed, Home Secretary John Reid has said as he unveiled his action plan to "rebalance" the criminal justice system in favour of victims.

He announced a range of measures to toughen sentences for criminals, including doubled sentences for knife carriers, 8,000 new prison places and tougher terms for serious offenders.

Two major planks of sentencing policy which were introduced only last year will be dramatically altered. However, the controversial human rights legislation - which some critics have accused of putting the rights of criminals first - will stay in force.

Instead, ministers will implement a range of schemes to make the existing laws work better.

Mr Reid said: "We haven't gone in saying everything is right or everything is wrong with the Human Rights Act. We have set out what we need to repair here, and how we do it."

Earlier this year, probation watchdog Andrew Bridges revealed convicted rapist Anthony Rice was freed to kill mother-of-one Naomi Bryant because parole and probation officers put his human rights ahead of their duties to protect the public.

Legislation may be introduced, if necessary, to ensure that protecting the public from dangerous offenders is always the top priority, the plan said. Practical "myth-busting" advice will be issued to agencies so they do not misinterpret human rights laws, it added.

The Government will also continue to fight rulings from the European Court of Human Rights which it believes prevents it from applying the law properly. In particular, ministers are keen to overturn the case of Sikh militant Karamjit Singh Chahal, in which Strasbourg judges said the risk that a suspected terrorist might be tortured abroad if deported could not be balanced against the risk to a country if he were allowed to stay.

Chahal successfully argued against the UK in 1996 that returning him to India could breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), because he could face torture and "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". Mr Reid described Strasbourg's ruling as "outrageously imbalanced".

The Home Secretary is to alter measures which came into force in April last year allowing prisoners to be released halfway through a life term. A range of options will be put forward to ensure dangerous offenders serve longer. And rules created by the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) which force judges to give a one-third discount on jail terms to offenders who plead guilty at an early stage - which only came into force 18 months ago - will also be re-written.

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.

[randip singh]

Human Rights Act reform ruled out

Press Association

Thursday July 20, 2006 6:28 PM

The Human Rights Act will not be repealed or reformed, Home Secretary John Reid has said as he unveiled his action plan to "rebalance" the criminal justice system in favour of victims.

He announced a range of measures to toughen sentences for criminals, including doubled sentences for knife carriers, 8,000 new prison places and tougher terms for serious offenders.

Two major planks of sentencing policy which were introduced only last year will be dramatically altered. However, the controversial human rights legislation - which some critics have accused of putting the rights of criminals first - will stay in force.

Instead, ministers will implement a range of schemes to make the existing laws work better.

Mr Reid said: "We haven't gone in saying everything is right or everything is wrong with the Human Rights Act. We have set out what we need to repair here, and how we do it."

Earlier this year, probation watchdog Andrew Bridges revealed convicted rapist Anthony Rice was freed to kill mother-of-one Naomi Bryant because parole and probation officers put his human rights ahead of their duties to protect the public.

Legislation may be introduced, if necessary, to ensure that protecting the public from dangerous offenders is always the top priority, the plan said. Practical "myth-busting" advice will be issued to agencies so they do not misinterpret human rights laws, it added.

The Government will also continue to fight rulings from the European Court of Human Rights which it believes prevents it from applying the law properly. In particular, ministers are keen to overturn the case of Sikh militant Karamjit Singh Chahal, in which Strasbourg judges said the risk that a suspected terrorist might be tortured abroad if deported could not be balanced against the risk to a country if he were allowed to stay.

Chahal successfully argued against the UK in 1996 that returning him to India could breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), because he could face torture and "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". Mr Reid described Strasbourg's ruling as "outrageously imbalanced".

The Home Secretary is to alter measures which came into force in April last year allowing prisoners to be released halfway through a life term. A range of options will be put forward to ensure dangerous offenders serve longer. And rules created by the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) which force judges to give a one-third discount on jail terms to offenders who plead guilty at an early stage - which only came into force 18 months ago - will also be re-written.

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.

Very misleading title....I would say redress the balance.

[killah]

Did you edit the title?

I wrote the title in reference to Indian state terrorism and torture which this uk labour govt will sanction if it manages to over rule the judgement of mr chahal's human rights case. What in effect will mean is that any 3rd world terrorism sponsering government can torture and murder you and this so called western democratic cilivilsed nation will not give you refugee status because they will deem you as a threat to "national secruity" When there is no evidence to suggest Sikhs pose any danger to uk mainland or its interests aboard.

THATS WHY THE TITLE WAS AS IT WAS!!!

I suggest who ever changed the title change it back, this is an abuse of power by the moderator and it's unwarrented.

[killah]

hello??? who edited the title?

im still waiting for an answer.