One year on, Liz McInnes MP pressures government to finally act on dangerous driving promise

Liz McInnes, Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton, has called on the government to finally act on the promise it made to introduce tougher sentences for those who cause death by dangerous driving.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/113192/liz-mcinnes-welcomes-tougher-sentences-for-causing-death-by-dangerous-driving

In October 2017, following a long fight by grieving families and campaigners, the government finally announced it would bring in tougher sentences which better reflected the severity of the crime.

One such example is the lenient six-year sentence then 19-year-old Addil Haroon received after his dangerous driving killed Joseph Brown-Lartney in November 2014. 

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112048/parents-heartache-as-killer-of-joseph-brownlartey-moved-to-open-prison

Joseph, 25, died instantly in November 2014 when a car sped through a red light at 80mph in a 30 zone (the junction of Bury Road and Sandy Lane, Rochdale), smashing into Joseph’s Audi and splitting it in two.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/92400/man-dies-in-horrific-early-morning-car-crash

 

 

The wreckage of Joseph's car was paraded outside Parliament in 2016 as his parents called for stiffer sentences for those who kill on the roads.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/103963/justice-for-joseph-campaign-–-car-wreckage-paraded-past-parliament

However, 12 months on from the government's announcement and no legislation has been introduced, and nor has any timescale been given to indicate when it might be expected.

Liz McInnes MP said: “It's now one year on from the government announcement that they would introduce tougher sentences for those who cause death by dangerous driving.

“Since then, myself and other MPs have written to Ministers many times to ask when legislation will be introduced, and I have raised it with them directly in parliament.

“Each time I am told that changes will be introduced ‘as soon as parliamentary time allows’.

“This response is unacceptable and lets down the already grieving families, and is a particular insult to those who have lost loved ones since October 2017 and who know that if it weren't for the government dragging its feet the killer would be serving a sentence that fits the crime.

“This week I am writing once again to the Justice Secretary David Gauke to ask when exactly we can expect the legislation to be brought forward.

“The delay so far has been unacceptable, and the government need to act now.”