Marriage ban for prisoners serving whole-life orders

Prisoners serving whole-life orders will no longer have the right to get married under a measure signed into law by the lord chancellor. The measure, in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, was pledged by former justice secretary Dominic Raab in March last year. This followed widespread anger over a bid by serial killer Levi Bellfield to challenge a decision blocking him from marrying in prison. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 comes into force today. Announcing the marriage ban, …