Sentencing for terrorist acts must be toughened up to protect the public, a Gloucestershire MP has warned.

Alex Chalk, the MP for Cheltenham, made the call to Home Secretary Amber Rudd during a debate in Parliament about terrorist attacks in the UK

Mr Chalk (pictured) said: "At present, a person who pleads guilty to possessing a well-known extremist publication, which includes instructions for making home-made bombs, will typically be sentenced to just 14 months.

"So they will be out in seven months, and will still be radicalised and be a danger.

"Does the Home Secretary agree that the time has come to toughen up sentences under sections 57 and 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000?"

He added: "Nearly 40 per cent of those charged under terrorism offences are prosecuted under sections 57 and 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

"This allows a maximum sentence of 15 and 10 years respectively.

"But the average sentence being handed down is just 14 months, with many convicted prisoners likely to serve no more than seven months.

"We have the tools we need in the form of extensive counter-terrorism legislation, but they need to be used more effectively to protect the public."

The Home Secretary agreed that the Government "must look at tougher sentencing".

She confirmed that a Government-commissioned independent review of terrorism laws, led by Max Hill QC "does see the need for a review of sentences, so we will certainly look at whether we can have tougher sentences."

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