SENTENCING POLICY FOR SERIOUS SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

That this House notes the widespread concern in Northern Ireland regarding recent sentences passed down for serious sexual offences where the victims were children; recognises the long-term damage done to the victims in such cases and the need for all those in authority to be more aware of the adverse consequences for the victims, some of whom are very young; and demands an urgent review of sentencing policy in Northern Ireland so that sentences better reflect the depravity of the crime in each and every case especially where the offender is a persistent one who poses a continuing risk to society in general and children in particular.