Petition · past parliament

Release former SAS hero, 65 year old Albert Patterson from prison.

Rejected 13 signatures

What the petition asks

Albert Patterson has been jailed for 15 months because he keept a trophy pistol he captured during the Falklands War. Albert cannot be considered to be a danger to the community and perhaps a fine and a suspended sentence would have been more appropriate.
The 65-year-old said he kept the handgun to remind him of the 22 friends killed in the 1982 conflict.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

The Government and Parliament are not responsible for releasing people from prison. You could ask the Government to ask the Queen to exercise the prerogative of mercy.

You could also start a new petition calling on Parliament to change the law, to prevent cases like this happening in the future. This is likely to be more effective than asking for a court sentence to be overturned.

Timeline

15 Apr 2016 Petition opened for signatures
26 May 2016 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 13
Status Rejected
Rejected 26 May 2016

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.