Forgotten victims

ALAN Johnson has proved to be one of Labour's more likeable and reasonable Ministers but even he can say little to console Lorraine Fraser, whose 16-year-old son, Tyrone Clarke, was battered and stabbed to death in Leeds in 2004. Now one of the gang of thugs who deprived Mrs Fraser of her child is contemplating an early release – yet it is the grieving family which faces the real life sentence.

Mrs Fraser is rightly horrified that Liaquat Ali, now 22, is attempting to have his tariff reduced from nine years and 47 days to five years. That is why she is thinking about turning away from Labour having

backed the party throughout her life.

Like millions of others, she is disappointed that while Ministers have been tough on the causes of crime, the same toughness has not been shown to the criminals themselves. Of course, sentencing is carried out by the courts, rather than Government, but Ministers can legislate to increase the chances of violent people getting the punishments they deserve.

Too many serious criminals are either getting soft sentences or being released from prison earlier than victims and their families expected – although that can never be an excuse for vigilantes deciding to mete out their own form of justice.

The expression of such a frustration, however, reflects the public's weakening confidence in the criminal justice system. It should be a priority for whoever is in control of the Home Office after May 6 to ensure that violent offenders are put behind bars for a long time. Hopefully that might deter others from the selfish cruelty that

deprives a family of a young life.