Recommendation 2

Life sentences for children have been criticised by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, whose interpretation of the UNCRC, while not legally binding, is authoritative. Increasing the length of time children must spend in custody before they can be considered for release can only be seen as making DHMP even less aligned to the rights in the UNCRC. The Bill should be amended to remove any tariff starting points above the current 12 years.