Updates
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Revisions and corrections to Sentencing Council digital guidelines >
16 June 2025
Minor revisions and corrections log: 16 June 2025 Sentencing Council policy on making changes to digital guidelines The Sentencing Council has established a process for ... Read More
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Amendments to be made to sentencing guidelines as a result of the incoming Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-Sentence Reports) Act 2025 >
13 June 2025
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 ... Read More
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Revised version of the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline – 1 April 2025 >
05 March 2025
A revised version of the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline was published on 5 March 2025 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains ... Read More
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New guidelines on aggravated vehicle taking offences guidelines, disqualification and other motoring related matters – 1 April 2025 >
19 February 2025
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of aggravated vehicle taking offences guidelines, disqualification and other motoring related matters were published on 19 February 2025 and ... Read More
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New guidelines on strangulation and suffocation offences – 1 January 2025 >
17 December 2024
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of strangulation and suffocation offences were published on 17 December 2024 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these ... Read More
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New guidelines on perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation – 1 October 2023 >
12 July 2023
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation were published on 12 July 2023 and the online sentencing ... Read More
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New guidelines on motoring offences – 1 July 2023 >
15 June 2023
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of motoring offences were published on 15 June 2023 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in a ... Read More
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Revised Totality guideline – 1 July 2023 >
01 June 2023
The revised Totality guideline was published on 1 June 2023 and the online sentencing guideline now contains this in a purple colour scheme prior to ... Read More
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New guidelines on animal cruelty offences – 1 July 2023 >
10 May 2023
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of animal cruelty offences were published on 10 May 2023 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in ... Read More
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New guidelines on child cruelty offences – 1 April 2023 >
07 March 2023
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of child cruelty offences were published on 7 March 2023 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in ... Read More
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New guidelines on the offence of sale of knives etc to persons under 18 – 1 April 2023 >
15 February 2023
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of the offence of sale of knives etc to persons under 18 were published on 15 February 2023 and ... Read More
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New guidelines on firearms importation offences – 1 January 2022 >
24 November 2021
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of modern slavery offences were published on 24 November 2021 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in ... Read More
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New guidelines on modern slavery offences – 1 October 2021 >
12 August 2021
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of modern slavery offences were published on 12 August 2021 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in ... Read More
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New guidelines on unauthorised use of a trade mark – 1 October 2021 >
05 August 2021
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of unauthorised use of a trade mark offences were published on 5 August 2021 and the online sentencing guidelines ... Read More
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New guidelines on assault offences – 1 July 2021 >
26 May 2021
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of assault offences were published on 27 May 2021 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in a ... Read More
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New guidelines on drug offences – 1 April 2021 >
26 January 2021
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of drug offences were published on 27 January 2021 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in a ... Read More
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New guidelines on firearms offences – 1 January 2021 >
09 December 2020
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of firearms offences were published on 9 December 2020 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in a ... Read More
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Updates to the Magistrates’ Courts Sentencing Guidelines come into force on 1 October 2020 >
01 October 2020
The changes to the Magistrates’ Courts Sentencing Guidelines and explanatory materials, which we consulted on in early 2020, are now in force from 1 October. ... Read More
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Sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders or neurological impairments – 1 October 2020 >
22 July 2020
The Council has published a new guideline for sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders or neurological impairments. The ‘Overarching principles: Sentencing offenders with mental disorders, ... Read More
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New guidelines on Public Order offences – 1 January 2020 >
16 October 2019
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of Public Order offences were published on 16 October 2019 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these in ... Read More
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New General guideline and expanded explanations – in force from 1 October 2019 >
24 July 2019
The new overarching General guideline was published on 24 July 2019. It will appear in a purple colour scheme until it comes into force in ... Read More
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New guidelines on arson and criminal damage – 1 October 2019 >
03 July 2019
Definitive sentencing guidelines for the sentencing of arson and criminal damage were published on 3 July 2019 and the online sentencing guidelines now contains these ... Read More
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Magistrates’ Court fines calculator – changes to victim surcharge levels >
28 June 2019
The levels of the victim surcharge have changed for offences committed on or after 28 June 2019. These changes have been reflected in the explanatory ... Read More
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Either-way sexual offences – new to the MCSG >
04 June 2019
The Sexual Offences definitive guideline, which came into force in 2014, includes a number of offences that are triable either way but, in reality, are ... Read More
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Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, changes to terrorism guidelines >
23 May 2019
The Council has made small revisions to six of the terrorism offences sentencing guidelines to take account of changes brought about by the Counter-Terrorism and ... Read More
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Notice for all magistrates and district judges: online data collection in magistrates’ courts, 23 April to 30 September >
08 May 2019
Between 23 April and 30 September 2019, the Sentencing Council is asking magistrates and district judges to fill out an online sentencing form every time ... Read More
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Assault on emergency workers – 13 November 2018 >
13 November 2018
The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 came into force on 13 November 2018. The Act creates a statutory aggravating factor: Offence was committed ... Read More
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Out of court disposals >
09 November 2018
The ‘out of court disposals’ pages in the explanatory materials have been updated with information about fixed penalties for certain environmental and other anti-social behaviour ... Read More
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New cruelty to a child sentencing guideline – effective from 1 January 2019 >
05 November 2018
A definitive sentencing guideline for sentencing child cruelty was published on 6 September 2018. This guideline is now listed in the A to Z of ... Read More
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New intimidatory offences guideline – effective from 1 October 2018 >
05 July 2018
A definitive sentencing guideline for intimidatory offences was published on 5 July 2018. This guideline is now listed in the A to Z of offences ... Read More
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New breach offences guideline – effective from 1 October 2018 >
07 June 2018
A definitive sentencing guideline for breach offences was published on 7 June 2018. This guideline is now listed in the A to Z of offences ... Read More
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New terrorism offences guideline – effective from 27 April 2018 >
28 March 2018
A definitive sentencing guideline for terrorism offences was published on 28 March 2018. This guideline is now listed on the A to Z of offences ... Read More
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New bladed articles and offensive weapons offences guideline – effective from 1 June 2018 >
01 March 2018
A definitive sentencing guideline for bladed article and offensive weapons offences was published on 1 March 2018, and is now listed on the online guidelines ... Read More
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Definitive guideline on the overarching principles of sentencing domestic abuse published >
22 February 2018
Today, the Sentencing Council is publishing a definitive guideline on the overarching principles of sentencing domestic abuse.The definitive guideline will come into force on 24 ... Read More
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Online data collection (1st November 2017 to 30th March 2018) >
08 November 2017
Please touch the six links below to access the forms for the Sentencing Council’s online data collection:Criminal damageHarassment (without violence) or StalkingPossession of a bladed ... Read More
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PDF of Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines >
24 April 2017
The Sentencing Council is phasing out the single pdf version of the Magistrates’ Court sentencing guidelines. The pdf includes all the guidelines currently in force, along ... Read More
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MCSG new offence guidelines – PDFs >
06 April 2017
The revised guidelines in the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines come into effect on 24 April 2017.We are working on a PDF that includes all guidelines, ... Read More
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Definitive guidelines on sentencing children and young people and reduction in sentence for a guilty plea published >
07 March 2017
Today, the Sentencing Council is publishing two definitive guidelines, on sentencing children and young people and reduction in sentence for a guilty plea.The definitive guideline ... Read More
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Increase in penalty points and fixed penalty for using a hand held mobile phone while driving >
28 February 2017
For offences committed on or after 1 March 2017 the fixed penalty for using a mobile phone while driving has gone up from £100 to ... Read More
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New sentencing guidelines for magistrates’ courts published >
24 January 2017
The Sentencing Council has published revised guidelines for offences in the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines.The guidelines apply to all offenders aged 18 and older who ... Read More
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Sentencing Council publishes drug driving guidance >
17 November 2016
Today the Sentencing Council is launching guidance for sentencing cases of ‘drug driving’. The guidance is to assist those sentencing offences of driving, attempting to ... Read More
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Imposition of community & custodial sentences: Definitive guideline >
25 October 2016
The Sentencing Council has published today (25 October 2016) updated guidance for courts about the process that should be followed when deciding whether offenders should ... Read More
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Sentencing guidelines on dangerous dog offences come into force >
01 July 2016
The online version of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines has been updated as the revised sentencing guidelines on dangerous dog offences have come into force ... Read More
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Offline version of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines >
09 June 2016
An offline version of the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines has been developed to ensure that the guidelines are accessible even if wifi is unavailable in ... Read More
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New fines calculator >
26 May 2016
We have provided a new fines calculator. This has been updated to take account of changes to surcharge values, and provides users with the option ... Read More
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Victim surcharge update >
04 April 2016
The victim surcharge has been increased for offences committed on or after 8 April 2016. Details can be found in the explanatory materials. Read More
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New dangerous dog offences guideline – 17 March 2016 >
17 March 2016
A definitive sentencing guideline for health and safety offences was published on 17 March and the MCSG now contains these guidelines in a purple colour ... Read More
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Revised allocation guideline >
01 March 2016
The revised guideline for determining whether cases should be dealt with by magistrates' courts or the Crown Court has come into effect today (1 March ... Read More
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Equal Treatment Bench Book >
18 February 2016
We have now included a link to the Judicial College's Equal Treatment Bench Book.This is available under External Links on the left hand side. Read More
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Adult Court Pronouncement Cards >
04 February 2016
The Adult Court Pronouncement Cards have been updated to reflect the removal of the Criminal Courts charge. The Judicial College has also developed this document to ... Read More
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Sentencing guidelines on theft and health and safety offences come into force >
01 February 2016
The online version of the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines has been updated as the sentencing guidelines on theft offences and health and safety offences have ... Read More
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Changes to the Criminal Courts Charge – 24 December 2015 >
24 December 2015
From 24 December 2015, the Criminal Courts Charge no longer applies following the announcement made by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, ... Read More
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New allocation guideline – 10 December 2015 >
10 December 2015
A new guideline for determining whether cases should be dealt with by a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court was published on 10 December. The ... Read More
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New health and safety offences guideline – 03 November 2015 >
03 November 2015
A definitive sentencing guideline for health and safety offences was published on 3 November and the MCSG now contains these guidelines in a purple colour ... Read More
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New theft offences guideline now available – 06 October 2015 >
06 October 2015
A definitive sentencing guideline for theft offences was published on 6 October and the MCSG now contains these guidelines in a purple colour scheme prior to ... Read More
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New Explanatory Material >
02 September 2015
Following a consultation with magistrates and other users of the MCSG, we have, with the assistance of the MCSG working group, undertaken a major revision ... Read More