Saqib is calling for tougher sentences for individuals convicted of possessing indecent images of children amidst the news that 30 criminals convicted of this offence are to be released from prison under the early release scheme. He spoke to GB News about his concern that sentences not being onerous enough for this crime are not an effective deterrent for people to stop engaging in this behaviour. Saqib stated that this is an issue for the Justice Secretary and that she should look at changing the regulations so that those convicted of this offence receive jail time instead of a suspended sentence or community service.
The early release scheme allows prisoners to be released after serving 40% of their sentence and is being used to address the overcrowding and lack of available places within prisons. Saqib said in his interview that overcrowding in prisons is a pressing issue but that under the previous Conservative government when prison spaces were needed, they were found, and they took decisions that brought new prisons online.
Commenting on the news, Saqib said:
"It is incredibly worrying that criminals convicted of these heinous acts are being released early and are not serving long enough prison sentences. The decision to allow such individuals to serve suspended sentences essentially decriminalises the act and does not provide an effective deterrent for the crime."
"The victims of these crimes deserve justice and this will only happen with harsher sentencing for their abusers."
