The court had to consider consider whether the application of statutory provisions requiring a prisoner to be released on licence, that were not applicable at the date of the offence, violated Article 7. The claimant had been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for various sex offences.
Held: They did not. The essential question is whether the statutory imposition of the licence constituted the imposition of a penalty greater than that which would have been imposed at the time he committed the offences. The purpose of a licence was to enable a long-term prisoner to stay out of trouble, both for his own benefit and for the benefit of the community and so that he did not again lose his liberty. The nature and purpose of the licence are such that they dominate the factors which go to the conclusion as to whether the imposition of a licence is a penalty or not. The imposition of a licence is designed to protect the public once an prisoner is released, and assist in preventing the prisoner from committing further offences.
Moses J
[2003] EWHC 950 (Admin)
Bailii
European Convention on Human Rights 7.1
England and Wales
Citing:
Appealed to – Regina on the Application of Uttley v Secretary of State for the Home Department CA 30-Jul-2003
Licence conditions imposed at the time of sentence would restrict the defendant after he had served his sentence and been released, and so operated as a heavier penalty, and section 33(1) was incompatible with the defendant’s Art 7.1 rights.
Cited by:
Cited – McFetrich, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department Admn 30-Jun-2003
The defendant had been convicted of murder in Scotland. He requested a transfer to an English prison. The trial judge recommended a tariff of eight years which was eventually set at 12 years by the respondent. That figure also exceeded the maximum . .
Cited – Regina v R (Sentencing: Extended licences) CACD 25-Jul-2003
The imposition of an extended period of licence in respect of offences committed before 1992 did not infringe the defendant’s human rights. The defendant had been convicted of offences from 1976 and 1982. The commencement date for the 1991 Act was 1 . .
Appeal from – Regina on the Application of Uttley v Secretary of State for the Home Department CA 30-Jul-2003
Licence conditions imposed at the time of sentence would restrict the defendant after he had served his sentence and been released, and so operated as a heavier penalty, and section 33(1) was incompatible with the defendant’s Art 7.1 rights.
Human Rights, Criminal Sentencing
Updated: 18 December 2021; Ref: scu.184132