[Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Postcode] [Your Email] [Date]

[MP Name] House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

Dear [MP Name],

I am writing to you as one of your constituents to ask for your support in ensuring that the recent amendments to the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme—specifically the ‘duty to notify’ and ‘out of time route’—be officially enshrined in the statute books as “Josh’s Law”. 

Josh was tragically murdered in an unprovoked knife attack in 2015. When his life was taken in an unprovoked attack at the age of 21 by someone unknown to him, Tracey’s family and so many others suffered throughout a four-year worldwide campaign for justice.  Following the eventual arrest, a ‘not guilty’ plea was returned, they were forced to endure the raw, secondary trauma of a five-week crown court murder trial. They were further distressed at the end of the trial, where the offender, at the time Britain’s most wanted fugitive, was sentenced to a mandatory sentence for life serving a minimum of 26 years. This was only one year over the minimum tariff for murder with a knife, despite Judge Nigel Lickley QC presiding over the trial, sentencing remark “a grotesque, violent and totally unnecessary attack on an innocent man”.

 

They were not informed of their right to appeal this sentence under the ULS scheme by the CPS at the time of sentencing, despite Tracey expressing her disappointment. When she discovered she had the right to appeal on the 28th day, she submitted her appeal at 8.41pm. The Attorney General informed her it was not possible to refer her case to the Court of Appeal because the 28-day deadline which is ‘absolute’ as the application had been received ‘out of office hours’. She was therefore, denied the right to appeal a sentence because of systemic failure. Tracey and her charity, The Josh Hanson Trust has been raising awareness, supporting victims and bereaves families and campaigning for changes in the ULS Scheme ever since.

 

Furthermore, she has spent the seven years since the trial, working tirelessly to ensure no other family is abandoned by a bureaucratic technicality. With so many families and victims becoming aware of the ULS, the campaign for Josh’s Law has always advocated for other victims of serious violent crimes, and in particularly for bereaved families whose needs have too often been ignored within the criminal justice system.

 

On the 9th April the Government announced that the ‘duty to notify’ and ‘out of time amendments’ which are welcomed, but we are dismayed that they are not going to be officially recognised as Josh’s Law. Please support our appeal because:

• The charity works tirelessly to support victims of crime. “Josh’s Law” provides us with a clear, recognisable mandate to ensure no victim is “left in the dark” and that every individual understands their rights from the moment a sentence is passed.
• It ensures that Josh’s name is synonymous with fairness and progress. It turns a tragedy into a permanent pillar of protection for every victim who follows.
• This campaign was built upon years of rigorous research and academic collaboration, during to ensure our proposals were evidence-based and legally sound.
• The Open University, University of Lancashire and Lancaster University Policy Units involving 40 law students and 5 supervisors have researched over the past two years have researched independently supported the need for Josh’s Law 
• Since Josh’s death, the public has consistently supported the pursuit of justice over the four-year effort to bring the offender to court, and seven years of advocacy for Josh’s Law and initiatives targeting shortcomings in victim care delivered through the charitable trust.
• This work encompasses the implementation of End-to-End Victim Care and Leadership training provided to the Metropolitan Police and significant lobbying concerning the terminology used in the Victim Impact Statement. These actions have contributed to operational changes in the Bereaved Families Service and prompted further legal reforms. 

Designating the amendment as Josh’s Law will formally acknowledge both the significant personal struggle involved extensive advocacy on behalf of many other bereaved families and reflects public sentiment and support.

This ‘win’ has already been recognised as Josh’s Law by stakeholders: 

The Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister of State for Justice: “Tracey Hanson has campaigned with extraordinary courage and tireless determination following the murder of her son, Josh. Because of her work and the @JoshHansonTrust, we are extending the time limit for appeals under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.”

Baroness Brinton: “Tracey, it’s down to your courage and determination, regardless of the many knockbacks over the years from Minister after Minister, we have finally got Josh’s Law! It’s been a privilege working with you.”

The Right Honourable Baroness Levitt KC Speech in the Lords 15th April 2026: I want to pay tribute to Tracey Hanson, who, after her son Josh was murdered in an unprovoked knife attack in 2015, set up The Josh Hanson Trust, which focuses on supporting victims of violent crime and delivers educational programmes aimed at preventing youth violence and knife crime. She has campaigned tirelessly for reform of the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to ensure that victims and bereaved families are made aware of the scheme and have a longer period in which to ask for a review. She has worked for over a decade with academics and campaigners to create this change in the law to ensure that no other bereaved family suffers an injustice like that suffered by her family when they were not notified in time about the existence of the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme. I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Tracey Hanson, but I would like to do so. She is clearly a remarkable woman, able to use her energy to campaign for changes to the criminal justice system in memory of her son Josh, so that other families in her position can benefit from her work”.  

MP Robbie Moore: “I would like to pay huge tribute to campaigners like Tracey Hanson, who has shown incredible strength over the past 7 years in fighting for these changes after the murder of her son, Josh. This reform is a direct result of that determination.”

MP Blake Stephenson: “Tracey has campaigned relentlessly over the past seven years… I know that despite this step forward, Tracey will be continuing her fight for full equality for victims in the eyes of the law.”

Claire Waxman OBE, Victims’ Commissioner: “I am delighted that, after years of campaigning led by Tracey Hanson following the tragic death of her son Josh… the government has finally listened. I have long supported and worked closely with Tracey on her campaign since 2019, following the appalling injustice she experienced…”

Victim Support: This change has been driven by the tireless work of campaigners like Tracey Hanson The Josh Hanson Trust, whose determination and commitment have been instrumental in securing this vital reform. Her courage will help ensure others do not face the same barriers when seeking justice.

Katie Kempen: “Tracey Hanson MA FRSA and the Josh Hanson Trust have tirelessly campaigned for many years for this reform, and we owe Tracey thanks for this leadership in this area. I’d also like to thank her for her personal engagement with me and with Victim Support which has helped us to strengthen our resources for staff and victims.”

Cindy Butts: “This reform is testament to the tireless efforts of campaigners. I want to pay particular tribute to Tracey Hanson whose advocacy in honour of her son Josh has been extraordinary. Having had the privilege of meeting and speaking alongside her last month, I was reminded again of the strength it takes for bereaved families to turn personal tragedy into lasting change for others.”

Natalie Queiroz MBE: “Fantastic to see….the change in the Unduly Lenient Sentencing (ULS) Scheme due to Tracey Hanson’s relentless campaigning….Tracey Hanson, what you have done with your campaigning is life-changing, giving that opportunity of getting the justice they deserved if sentencing has failed them. Thank You.

I urge you to write to the Secretary of State for Justice to support Tracey Hanson’s request. Justice should never be a matter of “office hours,” and enshrining Josh’s Law would turn this 11-year journey into a permanent promise of fairness.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter and how you intend to support this campaign.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]