Miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines

What is this consultation about? The Sentencing Council has been in existence for over ten years and has built up a large body of sentencing guidelines that are in use in courts throughout England and Wales. There are inevitably issues that arise with existing guidelines over time and the Council has decided to hold an annual consultation on miscellaneous amendments to guidelines. This is the first of these annual consultations in which the Council seeks the views of guideline users to proposals to make amendments to existing guidelines. The proposed changes relate to magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court. What is the Sentencing Council? The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines which courts in England and Wales must follow when passing a sentence. The Council consults on its proposed guidelines before they come into force and on any proposed changes to existing guidelines.