In Criminal Attempts Act 1981 Section 4 generally sets the penalties for attempting to commit an offence as the same as the offence attempted, and the only exception today is murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
Section 4 generally sets the penalties for attempting to commit an offence as the same as the offence attempted. The only exception today is murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, whereas section 4 makes the sentence for attempted murder discretionary (up to a maximum of life imprisonment). 
