UUP Police Board member and former North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain has welcomed plans by Home Secretary David Blunkett for tougher sentencing laws.

Under new proposals on sentencing for murderers, "life will mean life" for what the Home Secretary describes as "the most serious offenders".

Commenting today on the plans, Mr Cobain said: “At long last the Government are finally listening to the scores of police men and women who have been calling for tougher sentences all round.

“Many local communities have been suffering for too long, because a handful of re-offenders keep causing misery and in some extreme cases, effectively imposing curfews on the streets after dark.

“The few cannot continue to hamper, disturb or destroy the lives of the majority. They need to know that if they offend they will not get a slap on the wrists and an ‘off you go’ but a serious sharp sentence to deter them and others from offending again.”

The new sentencing 'principles' provide that anyone who abducts and murders a child should never be released from prison. Whole life terms could also be imposed for terrorist murder or multiple murders which are premeditated, sexual or sadistic.

The tariff for other categories of murder, such as the murder of a police or prison officer in the course of duty, or racially motivated murder, a minimum term of 30 years imprisonment could be passed – an increase of 10 years on current sentencing practice.

(MB/GMcG)