BRADFORD MPs have urged the Government to bring in tougher sentences for those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

Speaking during a Parliamentary debate, Imran Hussain, Bradford East MP and Shadow Justice Minister, paid tribute to the Telegraph & Argus's Stop the Danger Drivers campaign and said victims deserve "real justice". 

He also criticised cuts to the police and the impact it has had on dangerous driving and the ability to deter such behaviour. 

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins also spoke out.

 

Mr Hussain said: "Those who drive dangerously and those who sit behind the wheel while under the influence of drink and drugs do so with no thought for the consequences of their actions.

"They care little for the lifetime of grief and misery they can end up causing for the friends and families of those that they kill with their reckless actions."

He said sentences are "far from what the public both expect and want". 

"I want to be clear that the offence of causing death by dangerous driving and of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs should be treated with the severity that it deserves, with a severity that matches the consequences of their actions," he added.

"Despite it now being four years on from the Government's statement on their desire to increase the maximum sentence available to judges, we are still no closer to the legislation bringing such a desire into effect."

He went on to say: "Those killed by dangerous drivers or careless drivers under the influence of drink or drugs deserve justice, real justice, and the friends and families of those victims deserve to see those whose reckless and dangerous behaviour has left huge holes in their lives punished for those crimes."

While Mrs Cummins said: "There can be no more excuses. Many of us here today will know the lasting pain and loss of losing a loved one so brutally.

"I struggle to explain to bereaved relatives in my constituency why the Government is choosing to delay.

"Either the Minister should announce today when he intends to bring forward proposals for tougher sentences for Parliament to consider, or he should be honest and say that the Government no longer intends to do so and explain why.

"Judges recognise the inadequacy of the current sentencing guidelines and want to be able to hand down these tougher sentences so that the law of the land reflects the severity of the crime.

"As it stands, families are being let down, denied justice, and the Government's inaction is making their suffering worse.

"This Government may be in its last weeks, but it still has time to right this wrong and get these changes on the statute book."

She added that tougher sentences should be introduced "without delay". 

Robert Buckland, Minister of State for Justice, said the Government has not changed its view.

"It is our settled intention to increase the maximum penalty from 14 years to life imprisonment; the issue is when. I want to do this as soon as possible; I would like to see legislation done in a swift and effective way," he said.