Last amended by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 in 2022. Amended provisions on life sentences, extended sentences, and increased maximum penalties for certain offences.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
A major consolidation Act bringing together the procedural and substantive sentencing provisions previously scattered across many statutes. Codifies the purposes of sentencing, maximum penalties, mandatory minimum sentences, community orders, suspended sentences, extended sentences for dangerous offenders, and life sentences.
Key Points
- Purposes of sentencing: punishment, reduction of crime, reform, protection, reparation (s.57)
- Custody threshold — must be 'so serious' that only custody is justified (s.230)
- Community orders with requirements (Part 9)
- Suspended sentence orders (Part 10)
- Extended sentences for dangerous offenders (Part 10, Chapter 6)
- Mandatory life sentence for murder
- Minimum sentences for certain offences (e.g. repeat domestic burglary, knife possession)
- Consolidates sentencing provisions from over 50 statutes
- Sets out general sentencing principles and purposes of sentencing (punishment, reduction of crime, reform, protection of the public, reparation)
- Community orders and their requirements (unpaid work, curfew, supervision, etc.)
- Custodial sentences: suspended sentences, standard determinate sentences, extended sentences, life sentences
- Youth sentencing provisions including referral orders and detention
- Ancillary orders: compensation, confiscation, restraining orders
- Totality principle and sentencing guidelines
- Consolidation of sentencing provisions
- Custody threshold and community order criteria
- Guilty plea reduction framework
- Sentencing Council guidelines have statutory force
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2022 — Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Amended provisions on life sentences, extended sentences, and increased maximum penalties for certain offences.
2022 — Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Increased maximum sentences for various offences and reformed release provisions.