The Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill 2025 has now completed its passage through Parliament, and we anticipate that it will shortly receive Royal Assent.

In advance of Royal Assent being granted, the Council will be making amendments to a number of existing guidelines on Monday 16 June 2025 which will be effective immediately.

We will also be making necessary amendments to the revised Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline which was published on 5 March 2025. This guideline had been due to come into effect on 1 April 2025 and was paused as a result of the imminent introduction of the Sentencing Guidelines (Pres-Sentence reports) Bill.

The amended Imposition guideline will come into effect on 1 September 2025.

The Council has made these changes to be confident that all sentencing guidelines comply with the new legislation.

Details of all of the changes that will be made to existing guidelines and the amendments to the Imposition guideline can be seen here.