Life sentences for murdering police?

[simondjuk]

What do you think to this.  Quoted from the BBC Newsbeat Facebook feed

"People who kill police officers should face compulsory whole life sentences, Home Secretary Theresa May is to say. At the moment the current minimum sentence for a police murder is 30 years"

What a load of shite.  What makes a police officers life more important than a citizen? They go into the job knowing the risks.  IMO a life sentence should mean just that.

[Scimitar]

A "life" sentence for murder does not mean "life" anymore it seems.
A police officer knows the potential pitfalls of the job when he/she signs up.
Whilst I understand the Police have a very difficult job to do, I don't see why they should get special treatment in preference to anyone else who is murdered in their front line workplace.
I just wonder if Mrs May is trying to win back some of the support already lost from the Police before further cutbacks and pay restraints are undoubtedly announced.
Must admit I was a bit puzzled when I first read of her proposal.

[Stuart]

It appears as though the Police Federation see the idea as a load of old flannel to make it look like she's more pro-police than the budget and staffing cuts might suggest. They consider it to be disproportionate. You kill a copper and you go away for ever; kill a retired copper and, presumably, you're on parole ten years later.

[therealjr]

It's a soundbite and it's never going to happen.
Any government trying to mess with jail sentences will immediately find themselves referred to the European Court of Human Rights.
Only judges can make 'life means life' recommendations.
Incidentally the murder of a police officer 'in the line of duty' currently carries a minimum sentence of 30 years.