You can quibble and cavil to your heart’s content, but that’s NOT what the story says, nor the focus of the government official’s hyperbole.
All indications from both the writer’s posture, and the spokesman’s statements, lead any non-apologist to believe the convicts’ history and character are not an issue.
Of course they are.
As first time British offenders, they’d never have come close to 16 years. Probably a third of that at most.
The 15/16 yr sentences are because this is the nth time these men have had criminal (and serious violent ones at that) records. Because they are noted violent and serious criminals, and also gang members.
Like any criminal and criminal system, the more you do it, the heavier the punishment.