Hi everyone,

As you know last year we were promised tougher sentences for drivers who kill through drink, drugs, mobile use, speeding & racing.

I moved to Scotland and have tried to move things along, I wrote to my local MP asking for a meeting to discuss the campaign and to find out when we were liable to get them. I received an email today from his Secretary which I show below.  

Email rcvd today
"Thank you for your email, and following on from my original email, I have looked into this situation regarding the sentencing
change in the case of death by driving under the influence.
I have researched this and have found the information around this as follows:
At present, the maximum sentence for that offence is 14 years' imprisonment. In October 2017, following a consultation, the
Government said that it would bring forward proposals to increase the maximum sentence to a life sentence when
Parliamentary time allows. The Government has not yet brought forward these proposals.
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs
Section 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/contents creates an offence of causing
death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. As set out in Part I of Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic
Offenders Act 1988https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/53/contents the maximum penalty for this offence is a
sentence of 14 years' imprisonment (it was increased from 10 years to 14 years by section 285 of the Criminal Justice Act
2003https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/contents
Proposal to increase the penalty to a life sentence
In 2016, the Government launched a consultation on driving offences and the penalties for causing death. The Ministry of
Justice published its response in October 2017: Response to the consultation on driving offences and penalties relating to
causing death or serious
injuryhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/651879/consultationresponse
on-driving-offences.pdf. In this response it stated (para. 57) that, when Parliamentary time allows, it would introduce
proposals to raise the maximum penalty for the offence of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink
or drugs from 14 years to a life sentence. This would, of course, have to be done through primary legislation.
To date, the Government has not put forward any such legislation. In June, in response to a petition, HC Deb 11 June 2018
c6Phttps://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-06
11/debates/18061133000019/DangerousDrivingSentencingReview#contribution-FDC3ED74-86C4-42EE-A637-CBC841558D15,
Rory Stewart MP, the Minister for Justice, stated:
In October last year we published the Government response to the consultation on driving offences and penalties relating to
causing death or serious injury. In that response we confirmed our proposals to: increase the maximum penalty for causing
death by dangerous driving from 14 years' imprisonment to life; increase the maximum penalty for causing death by careless
driving under the influence of drink or drugs; and create a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving.
These proposals will require a change to primary legislation. The Government propose to introduce a Bill as soon as
Parliamentary time allows and we continue to look for appropriate opportunities to present these provisions to Parliament.
I hope this information is helpful but I imagine that you are fully aware of this situation, as you have been campaigning since
you lost your husband."

To say we know this already is my immediate response. It looks like no effort is being put into meeting my MP for face to face talks, to busy to speak to me or contact me direct.

Again you are all very much aware that it has been 3 years since Bob was killed and we are all still waiting for justice. frustration is setting in right now and really could do with all the support I can muster. Can you please share the new petition for me link below and if on twitter share there the more people we can get to see this to sooner we get a chance to have our voices heard. I shall be emailing the Ministry of Justice and the Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove, to try and get this raised in parliament again.

I thank you all for your support and look forward to getting those sentences introduced.

Much Love to you all

Lorraine

https://www.change.org/p/request-government-to-finally-ratify-tougher-sentences-for-drivers-who-kill