Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has said that it was "not an easy step" to introduce, for the first time, mandatory life sentences for some crimes other than murder in England and Wales.

Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Clarke said that the move was being taken to stop the "gross injustice" of indeterminate sentences, which saw some 6,000 people "languishing" in prison without knowing their fate.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.