A Productive Meeting with Matthew Patrick MP: Pushing Forward for Chantel’s Law

Image: Matthew Patrick ©House of Commons/Roger Harris

A Step Forward: Meeting with Matthew Patrick MP

Families Fighting for Justice recently had a productive and encouraging meeting with Matthew Patrick MP to discuss the urgent need for Chantel’s Law. During our conversation, we highlighted the gaps in Helen’s Law and how Chantel’s Law is essential in ensuring that murderers who desecrate and conceal their victims’ remains face true justice.

Matthew Patrick MP expressed his full support for the Chantel’s Law campaign, recognising the devastating impact these crimes have on victims’ families. He also showed great interest in the work of The HUB, our homicide support service, which provides vital assistance to families dealing with the aftermath of violent crime.

This meeting was a significant step forward, as gaining political backing is crucial to bringing Chantel’s Law before Parliament. With Matthew Patrick MP’s support, we are moving closer to making this necessary reform a reality.

Why Chantel’s Law is Needed More Than Ever

While Helen’s Law was a positive step in preventing killers from gaining parole when they refuse to disclose the location of their victims’ remains, it still has a serious loophole. If a murderer claims to have revealed the location of remains, but they are never found, Helen’s Law does not apply. This has allowed offenders to manipulate the system and evade full accountability for their actions.

There must be a clear legal framework for judges to follow in cases where a murderer has desecrated and concealed their victim’s remains:

• Murderers who desecrate and conceal a body face a mandatory life sentence with a minimum 40-year tariff before being considered for parole.
• Offenders who fail to reveal the location of remains or provide false locations to mislead authorities are not eligible for parole.
• If a killer claims to disclose the location of remains, but they are never found, parole is automatically denied, even after 40 years.

By combining the crimes of murder, desecration, and concealment into a unified sentence, Chantel’s Law would deliver the justice these heinous crimes demand.

The Next Steps in Our Campaign

With the support of Matthew Patrick MP, we are hopeful that Chantel’s Law can be debated in Parliament. We will continue to work towards making this a reality.