Death penalty error

The opening sentence should read: “The death penalty for murder was abolished in the UK.”

I believe the death penalty has been retained for either setting fire to one of Her Majesty’s dockyards, or for treason.

In the latter case, it should be noted that harming, or conspiring to harm, the monarch, the monarch’s spouse or the heir to the throne counts as treason.

Stephen D Morgan, by email

Editor’s note: What Mr Morgan says about the death penalty for murder only being abolished is true.

However, it is not correct that you can still be sentenced to death for other crimes in the UK.

All death sentence punishments were abolished under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.