Dangerous criminals and sex offenders in Northern Ireland can be jailed indefinitely under radical new sentencing proposals published today by the British Government.
Legislation expected to be in place by early next summer will bring to an end automatic 50 per cent remission for sentenced prisoners and provide judges with new public protection sentences.
In theory, those considered too dangerous to release could be kept in jail until they die - even though they have not been given a life sentence.
The Criminal Justice [NI] Order - which will come before the House of Commons today - also strengthens the law in relation to knife crime, road traffic powers and anti-social behaviour with new measures to stop drinking in public.
Electronic tagging will be brought to Northern Ireland for the first time, and curfews used as part of sentences.
Justice Minister Paul Goggins said: "This is a huge new departure in terms of sentencing, and judges will be more in control of someone they think is dangerous."
PA