KEIGHLEY MP Robbie Moore is calling for a change in law to ensure victims of serious crime are automatically told they have the right to appeal 'lenient' sentences.
And he is demanding that the current 28-day time limit for the public to appeal be extended.
He has met with Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, to discuss the issue.
Last year, Mr Moore successfully campaigned for an extension to jail terms handed down to three Keighley grooming gang members.
But he was told by one victim that she'd never been informed she could challenge her abusers' sentences.
Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, the public can ask the Attorney General to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal for crimes including murder, robbery, rape and child abuse.
The Ministry of Justice says that as part of a Victims' Code, police should inform a victim of their right to seek a review of certain sentences.
However, Mr Moore argues there is currently no legal rule forcing authorities to tell all victims about the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme – and he condemns the 28-day deadline to appeal as the "same amount of time given to shoppers to return a parcel".
He says: "Victims of horrific crimes – and their families – shouldn’t need an MP, lawyer or sheer luck to understand their basic right to challenge the sentence of their abusers. The law should require it.
"Worse still, it cannot be right that there's a strict 28-day time limit for victims and families to ask for a sentence to be reviewed, yet criminals themselves can appeal their own sentences beyond 28 days. It’s insulting; 28 days is the same window given to shoppers to return a parcel.
"I want to see a new mandatory duty to inform all victims and their families about the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, and an extension to the 28-day deadline.
"To me, these are common-sense changes."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson says: "We know the aftermath of a trial can be distressing for victims and their loved ones.
"As part of the Victims’ Code, police must automatically tell victims they can ask for certain sentences to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme – and anyone, not just victims, can refer a sentence to this scheme.
"The Law Commission is reviewing the situation regarding criminal appeals, which includes this scheme, and we will carefully consider its recommendations."
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