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Sentencing Guidelines Amendments

The Ministry of Justice is undertaking comprehensive sentencing reform through the Sentencing Bill 2025 and related consolidation amendments, including updates to housing offences sentencing guidelines and miscellaneous guideline amendments. The reform programme includes the Sentencing Act 2026 and addresses fine payment provisions under the Water Industry Act 1991, representing a significant overhaul of sentencing law and guidance. Current status involves active development of sentencing measures and guideline updates.

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25 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

We welcome the Sentencing Academy’s work reviewing the terminology of sentencing and we look forward to its findings. We encourage the Government to work with Sentencing Council and the judiciary to explore whether sentencing terminology can be simplified and made more accessible. The example set by the judiciary in the Netherlands and their project ‘plain language’ provides a useful model of how this could be done.

We welcome the Sentencing Academy’s work reviewing the terminology of sentencing and we look forward to its findings. We encourage the Government to work with Sentencing Council and the judiciary to explore whether sentencing terminology can be simplified and made …

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25 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

Research on the public’s views on sentencing can play a valuable role in the policy process. However, it must be recognised that ascertaining and measuring public opinion is very difficult to do. Unless research is well-designed and methodologically rigorous then the results are almost certain to be flawed. Any general assessments of the public’s view of sentencing policy across all offences should be balanced against analysis and engagement of public opinion and understanding which, where po...

Research on the public’s views on sentencing can play a valuable role in the policy process. However, it must be recognised that ascertaining and measuring public opinion is very difficult to do. Unless research is well-designed and methodologically rigorous then …

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25 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The MoJ should establish an independent advisory panel on sentencing to consider proposed changes to sentencing policy and to provide advice to ministers. The independent panel should bring together academic experts, the voluntary sector, and, importantly, representatives of victims of crime and their families. It is vital for the legitimacy of the independent panel that it should contain a diversity of opinion and a range of perspectives on sentencing. The panel should also conduct structure...

The MoJ should establish an independent advisory panel on sentencing to consider proposed changes to sentencing policy and to provide advice to ministers. The independent panel should bring together academic experts, the voluntary sector, and, importantly, representatives of victims of …

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25 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

At present, the public consultations conducted by the Sentencing Council on changes to guidelines represent one of the principal means by which the public can engage with the sentencing process. The Council does valuable work in engaging stakeholders in their consultations. However, their limited resources mean the Council only receives a small number of submissions from the public.

At present, the public consultations conducted by the Sentencing Council on changes to guidelines represent one of the principal means by which the public can engage with the sentencing process. The Council does valuable work in engaging stakeholders in their …

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25 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The quality of public discourse on sentencing must be improved so as to enable greater public knowledge and understanding of current sentencing practice, of Public opinion and understanding of sentencing 61 evidence on the effectiveness of different sentencing options, and the resource implications of sentences. It is incumbent on us all to play a role in shaping a more constructive debate and to seek consensus on the issues.

The quality of public discourse on sentencing must be improved so as to enable greater public knowledge and understanding of current sentencing practice, of Public opinion and understanding of sentencing 61 evidence on the effectiveness of different sentencing options, and …

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19 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

It is reassuring to hear judges have robustly rejected any attempts to use ‘honour’ to reduce a sentence. Explicitly recognising so-called honour in sentencing guidelines would go further; it would strengthen the understanding that honour-based abuse is taken seriously by the criminal justice system and only ever as an aggravating factor. We recommend the Sentencing Council considers including motivations of honour as an aggravating factor in the domestic abuse guideline. (Paragraph 89) 43

It is reassuring to hear judges have robustly rejected any attempts to use ‘honour’ to reduce a sentence. Explicitly recognising so-called honour in sentencing guidelines would go further; it would strengthen the understanding that honour-based abuse is taken seriously by …

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31 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

Under the current sentencing guidelines, fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, or for crimes where the financial loss is less than £5,000, a maximum of one year. However, the majority of those found guilty of crimes with a loss under £5,000 receive a fine or community order instead of the one year prison sentence available.32 The Department acknowledged that the maximum sentence permissible for crimes with a loss over £5,000 is only used “very rarely” and needed to be use...

Under the current sentencing guidelines, fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, or for crimes where the financial loss is less than £5,000, a maximum of one year. However, the majority of those found guilty of crimes with …

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18 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

The loss of a comparatively small amount of money can have a greater impact on one individual than the loss of a greater amount on another. The current sentencing guidelines do not recognise this and therefore overlook the emotional and psychological impact that fraud crimes can have on their victims.

The loss of a comparatively small amount of money can have a greater impact on one individual than the loss of a greater amount on another. The current sentencing guidelines do not recognise this and therefore overlook the emotional and …

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18 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

Sentencing guidelines should be amended to give greater consideration to the emotional and psychological harms caused by fraud crimes alongside the financial losses incurred. (Paragraph 122) Disrupting and preventing fraud

Sentencing guidelines should be amended to give greater consideration to the emotional and psychological harms caused by fraud crimes alongside the financial losses incurred. (Paragraph 122) Disrupting and preventing fraud Type: conclusion | Number: 31 | Response status: under_consideration Govern

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24 Sep 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government should update its guidance on the creation of new criminal offences for all departments to clarify that the Ministry of Justice should as a rule be consulted. While circumstances may conceivably arise in which the need for a speedy response may temporarily suspend that need, as may have been the case in the early stages of Covid-19 and the criminal law 33 the covid response, the Government should make a clear commitment to undertake the necessary consultation in all but the mos...

The Government should update its guidance on the creation of new criminal offences for all departments to clarify that the Ministry of Justice should as a rule be consulted. While circumstances may conceivably arise in which the need for a …

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