Clause 1 - Penalties for criminal offences
Copyright, etc. and Trade Marks (Offences and Enforcement) Bill
Public Bill Committees, 9 January 2002, 10:30 am
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne, Conservative)
As the hon. Gentleman knows, I support the measure, but I have a question about the tariff. All too often, we pass laws that specify maximum sentences as X or Y, but in reality tariffs produced by judges, with the blessing of the Lord Chancellor or the Lord Chief Justice—I forget which—determine on a day-to-day basis the sentences that are imposed. Is the hon. Gentleman reasonably convinced that, on paper, increasing or harmonising the maximums will translate into higher sentences on the ground?