Hull MP recognised by Brake

Karl Turner, Kingston Upon Hull East MP, has won Brake’s Parliamentarian of the Month Award for his efforts in campaigning for the proposed new charge of ‘causing serious injury by dangerous driving’.

Before Mr Turner entered Parliament, he worked as a criminal barrister on dangerous driving cases. He was struck by the inadequacy of sentencing for dangerous drivers who have inflicted serious injury.

In May 2011 he presented a Private Member’s Bill, calling for an increase in the maximum sentence for the conviction of dangerous driving from two years to seven, to better reflect the impact on victims’ families.

In June 2011 Mr Turner led a debate in Parliament and the following month he asked for the prime minister’s support to improve justice for seriously injured victims of dangerous drivers. He then met with Ken Clarke, justice secretary, and Crispin Blunt, victims’ minister, who agreed there was an anomaly in the law.

Karl Turner MP said: “I am pleased that the Government has seen sense and listened to calls for an increase to the sentence for dangerous driving. The Government should be putting the victim at the heart of our judicial system and this change in the dangerous driving law goes someway to doing that.”

Julie Townsend, Brake’s campaigns director, said: “Brake welcomes this new offence, which will help provide justice to families. As a charity that supports bereaved and seriously injured road crash victims, we hear first-hand about the pain they experience, and repeatedly see these families being let down by the justice system. We congratulate Karl for his success in playing a key role in bringing about this vital change in the law.”

For more information contact Brake on 01484 5559909.