Sarah Everard’s family join campaign for harsher prison sentences
The parents of Sarah Everard and other families have called for tougher sentences for serious violent criminals.
Jeremy and Susan Everard are part of a new group called Justice for Victims, formed with four other families, because they fear serious criminals are escaping adequate punishment.
Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens as she walked home in South London in 2021.
The case sparked mass protests around the UK with activists expressing concerns about the safety of women and Couzens was later sentenced to a whole life order – a term being served by around 70 prisoners in the UK.
Sarah’s parents said on the launch of the group: “Although nothing can alleviate the sense of loss, it is a relief to us that our daughter’s murderer received a whole life order. It made us feel that the enormity of his crime was recognised and that our daughter’s life was valued.
“We know of other families in similar circumstances who have not had this small comfort.”
Conservative MP Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Bexhill and Battle, introduced the five families and raised a question to PM Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday.
He told parliament on 26 March: “Jeremy and Susan received justice for their daughter but know so many others do not.
“They’ve come together to say with one voice that it is time for us to ensure that sentences truly deliver justice for victims and their families”
Starmer confirmed that Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, would meet the group, saying: “The courage of these campaigners after simply appalling cases is astounding.
“I look forward to meeting them in the future because we must prioritise victims and make sure sentences punish offenders and protect the public.”
Justice for Victims would like the views of victims, their families and the public given more weight in sentencing policy and aim to pressure MPs, launch campaigns and write submissions to consultations in parliament.
They said: “We have been setup by people who have first-hand experience of serious crimes, often losing loved ones, and who want the criminal justice system to focus more on victims and their families and for sentencing policy to deliver proper punishment of the worst offenders.”
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) lunched an Independent Sentencing Review in November 2024 to review sentencing and ensure sentences are punishing offenders and protecting the public, with some recent terms expected to be considered.
Earlier this year concerns were raised when two high-profile killers, Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana and triple-killer Nicholas Prosper escaped whole life terms.
Rudakubana will serve a minimum of 52 and Prosper 49 years meaning they could, In theory, be released from custody in their old age.
The Justice For Victims group will meet with Minister for Victims, Alex Davies-Jones and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and other cross-party MPs on Wednesday.
