How to use these sentencing guidelines

To find an offence-specific guideline, you can do any of the following:

  • enter the name of the offence in the box below,
  • use the offence-type drop-down list to select a related group of offences such as sexual offences or public order offences,
  • search for keywords, eg bribery, knives, sex,
  • enter the name of the relevant Act and/or section, eg Explosive Substances Act 1883, Public Order Act, section 5, or
  • scroll down the A to Z list of offences (guidelines not yet in effect are listed in purple).

To find an overarching guideline:

  • on this page, click on the heading Overarching Guidelines,
  • on any page, click the icon in the left-hand menu.

Right click to open a guideline in a new tab.

To print or create a temporary pdf of any guideline:

  • with the page open, click on , then select your printer or "Adobe PDF" to create a pdf. To include hidden content, open drop-down box before printing. Do not retain these copies. Only the online version of a guideline is guaranteed to be up to date.

  • Attempt to cause explosion, or making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property (terrorism only)

    Explosive Substances Act 1883, s.3
    attempted explosion,attempted explosion endangering life,attempted explosion endangering life or property,attempted explosion endangering property,attempted explosion terrorism,attempting to cause explosion,explosion,explosive device,explosive substance,Explosive Substances Act,Explosive Substances Act s.3,Explosive Substances Act s3,having explosive,keeping explosive,making explosive,s.3 Explosive Substances Act,s3,terrorism,terrorism involving explosives,terrorist,terrorist bombs,
  • Causing explosion likely to endanger life or property (terrorism only)

    Explosive Substances Act 1883, s.2
    attempted explosion,attempted explosion endangering life,attempted explosion endangering life or property,attempted explosion endangering property,attempted explosion terrorism,attempting to cause explosion,cause explosion,cause explosion endagering property,cause explosion endangering life,causing explosion endangering life,causing explosion endangering life or property,causing explosion endangering property,endanger life,endanger property,explosion,explosion endangering life,explosion endangering life or property,explosion endangering property,explosive,explosive device,explosive substance,explosive substances,Explosive Substances Act,Explosive Substances Act s.2,Explosive Substances Act s.3,Explosive Substances Act s2,Explosive Substances Act s3,having explosive,keeping explosive,making explosive,s.2 Explosive Substances Act,s.3 Explosive Substances Act,s2,s3,terror,terrorism,terrorism explosive substances,terrorism involving explosions,terrorism involving explosives,terrorist,terrorist bombs,terrorist explosions,terrorist explosives,
  • Collection of terrorist information

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.58
    collecting extremist material,collecting terrorist information,collecting terrorist material,having terrorist information,having terrorist material,possessing terrorist information,possessing terrorist material,PT00064,PT00065,PT00066,PT00067,recording terrorist information,recording terrorist material,s.58 Terrorism Act,s58 Terrorism Act,terror,terrorism,Terrorism Act s.58,Terrorism Act s58,
  • Dissemination of terrorist publications

    Terrorism Act 2006, s.2
    Disseminating terrorism,encouraging and disseminating terrorism,extremist publications,publishing terrorism,s.2 Terrorism Act,s2 Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s.2,Terrorism Act s2,terrorism materials,terrorist dissemination,terrorist materials,terrorist publications,
  • Encouragement of terrorism

    Terrorism Act 2006, s.1, Terrorism Act 2006, s.2
    encouraging and disseminating terrorism,Encouraging terrorism,s.1 Terrorism Act,s1 Terrorism Act,section 1,section 2,Terrorism Act s.1,Terrorism Act s1,terrorist,terrorist encouragement,TR06028,TR06029,TR06030,TR06031,TR06032,TR06033,
  • Explosive substances (terrorism only)

    Explosive Substances Act 1883, s.2, Explosive Substances Act 1883, s.3
    explosion,s2,s3,section 2,section 3,terrorist,
  • Failure to disclose information about acts of terrorism

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.38B
    concealing terrorism information,information about terrorism,information about terrorist activity,information on terrorism,information on terrorist activity,not disclosing terrorist information,PT00063,s 38b,s.38B Terrorism Act,s38B Terrorism Act,section 38b,terror,terrorism,Terrorism Act s.38B,Terrorism Act s38B,terrorist,terrorist activity information,terrorist information,
  • Funding terrorism

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.15, Terrorism Act 2000, s.16, Terrorism Act 2000, s.17, Terrorism Act 2000, s.18
    arranging funding for terrorism,arranging terrorism funding,financing terrorism,fund terrorism,funding terrorism,funding terrorism: fundraising,funding terrorism: money laundering,funding terrorism: use and possession,laundering money for terrorism,laundering money for terrorist activity,possessing and using terrorist funds,possessing terrorism funds,PT00016,PT00017,PT00018,PT00022,PT00023,raising funds for terrorism,s 15,s.15 Terrorism Act,s.16,s.16 Terrorism Act,s.17,s.17 Terrorism Act,s.18,s.18 Terrorism Act,s15,s15 Terrorism Act,s16,s16 Terrorism Act,s17,s17 Terrorism Act,s18,s18 Terrorism Act,section 15,section 16,section 17,section 18,terror,terrorism,Terrorism Act s.15,Terrorism Act s.16,Terrorism Act s.17,Terrorism Act s.18,Terrorism Act s15,Terrorism Act s16,Terrorism Act s17,Terrorism Act s18,terrorism finances,terrorism funding,terrorism money laundering,terrorism section 15,terrorism section 16,terrorism section 17,terrorism section 18,terrorist,using and possessing terrorist funds,using terrorism funds,
  • Funding terrorism – funding arrangements

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.17
    arranging funding for terrorism,arranging terrorism funding,financing terrorism,funding terrorism,s.17 Terrorism Act,s17 Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s.17,Terrorism Act s17,terrorism finances,terrorism funding,
  • Funding terrorism – fundraising

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.15
    financing terrorism,fund terrorism,funding terrorism,raising funds for terrorism,s.15 Terrorism Act,s15 Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s.15,Terrorism Act s15,terrorism finances,terrorism funding,
  • Funding terrorism – money laundering

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.18
    laundering money for terrorism,laundering money for terrorist activity,s.18 Terrorism Act,s18 Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s.18,Terrorism Act s18,terrorism money laundering,
  • Funding terrorism – use and possession

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.16
    possessing and using terrorist funds,possessing terrorism funds,s.16 Terrorism Act,s16 Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s.16,Terrorism Act s16,using and possessing terrorist funds,using terrorism funds,
  • Offences with a terrorist connection: guidance

    Counter Terrorism Act 2008,Notification offences,Sch. 2,Sch2,Schedule 2,terrorist,Terrorist connection,Terrorists,
  • Possession for terrorist purposes

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.57
    articles for terrorist activity,extremist material,having terrorist articles,possession of terrorist articles,PT00039,s.57 Terrorism Act,s57 Terrorism Act,terror,terrorism,Terrorism Act s.57,Terrorism Act s57,
  • Preparation of terrorist acts

    Terrorism Act 2006, s.5
    acts of terrorism,Preparation of terrorism,preparation of terrorist activity,preparing for terrorism,preparing for terrorist activity,preparing for terrorist acts,s.5 Terrorism Act,s5 Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s.5,Terrorism Act s5,terrorism preparation,terrorist activity,
  • Proscribed organisations – membership

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.11
    member of terrorist group,member of terrorist organisation,membership of terrorist organisation,PT00073,s.11 Terrorism Act,s11 Terrorism Act,terrorism,Terrorism Act s.11,Terrorism Act s11,terrorist,terrorist group member,terrorist organisation member,
  • Proscribed organisations – support

    Terrorism Act 2000, s.12
    PT00074,PT00075,PT00076,PT00077,s.12,s.12 Terrorism Act,s12 Terrorism Act,support for terrorism,supporting terrorism,supporting terrorist groups,supporting terrorist organisations,terror,terrorism,Terrorism Act,Terrorism Act s12,terrorist,terrorist support,