Liz Jarvis MP welcomes debate on sentencing of abusers, which began with a constituent's petition

Paris Shears, a resident of Eastleigh and victim of Domestic Abuse, called for this debate through an online petition which passed 100,000 signatures in less than five weeks. 

The proposed change to legislation, called Paris’s Law, will be debated in Westminster on Monday 19 October. The petition calls for an end to sentence reductions for late-stage guilty pleas in cases of controlling or coercive behaviour.

Liz Jarvis MP for Eastleigh commented:

“It cannot be that an abuser can plead not guilty for most of their trial and then receive a reduced sentence after changing their plea right at the end. I’m so proud of Paris for fighting to change the system.

“I will be at the debate on Monday, and I hope the Minister listens to Paris and gives her reassurance that other victims will not have to go through the same traumatic experience.”

Speaking about the petition, Paris Shears said:

“In these cases, the fear and uncertainty of a trial can prolong the psychological harm of the abuse. The person who caused that harm can maintain control through the process, then still benefit from changing their plea at the last moment.

“Walking into the court building was the heaviest walk of my life. I was traumatised and terrified, ready to face the trial. Before I reached the courtroom, he changed his plea and still received the benefit of a reduction in his sentence. That experience is why I couldn’t leave this issue alone. Paris’s Law is about making sure a late plea doesn’t erase the fear and harm a survivor has already been made to carry.”