The Council has published our response to the fourth annual miscellaneous amendments consultation along with details of amendments we will be making to guidelines. The changes apply to guidelines in both the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts and will come into force on 1 June 2025.

The consultation considered potential changes to guidelines arising from various sources including case law, changes to legislation and feedback from sentencers, which has led to the majority of the amendments.

The Council holds a consultation every year to gather views on potential amendments to guidelines that we consider to be substantial enough to warrant consultation but not so substantial that they require new guidelines to be drafted.

We expect to open our next miscellaneous amendments consultation in September 2025.