Boris Johnson is reportedly plotting new legislation which would see convicted child killers never leave prison.
The Sunday Telegraph reported murderers of pre-school age children would automatically be subject to “whole-life orders” under Downing Street’s plans.
The paper said Mr Johnson’s government also wants violent and sexual offenders to serve at least two-thirds of their full terms - rather than half.
Mr Johnson, who controversially prorogued Parliament in a move which he insisted was to plan domestic legislation, is reportedly set to introduce the new sentencing bill at next month’s Queen’s Speech.
A government source was quoted in the paper as saying: “Most people think all parties and the courts have lost the plot on sentencing. We agree with the public."
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s approach to violent crime was surprisingly praised by Labour mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Sunday.
Mr Khan credited his predecessor as mayor for “finally waking up to what I’ve been saying” about cuts to services such as police. Mr Johnson has pledged an extra 20,000 police officers over three years.
