Found: serving Standard Determinate Sentences, to be introduced by the Progression Model as part of the Sentencing Act

Found: Lord Empey: What modelling have you done on the Courts and Tribunals Bill and the Sentencing Act for

Found: serving Standard Determinate Sentences, to be introduced by the Progression Model as part of the Sentencing Act

Found: policy and legislative landscape has evolved significantly, including changes arising from the Sentencing Act

Found: of State for Justice to the Chair providing an update on the implementation of measures in the Sentencing Act

Found: Alongside this, reforms through the Sentencing Act 2026 are expected to reduce the prison population

Found: Impact of a growing prison population 35.Even with the changes introduced by the recent Sentencing Act

Found: policy and legislative landscape has evolved significantly, including changes arising from the Sentencing Act

Found: Alongside this, reforms through the Sentencing Act 2026 are expected to reduce the prison population

Found: One main reason for that is the Sentencing Act.

Found: We expect the Sentencing Act to buy a little time.

Found: make sure we understand the volume and monitor and manage the impact of programme changes and Sentencing Act

Found: and landscape, but it is absolutely at the top of the list at the moment, whether it is the Sentencing Act

Found: The Law Society of England and Wales (CTB0113); Society of Conservative Lawyers (CTB0090) 47 Sentencing Act

Found: The key determinant of that was the Sentencing Act.

Found: Minister Timpson told us that the Sentencing Act 2026—which was drafted in response to the recommendations

Found: pressure on the estate which is why we are implementing landmark sentencing reforms through the Sentencing Act

Found: 2026/385 The Mental Health Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026 S.I. 2026/402 The Sentencing Act

Found: for publication: Correspondence from the Minister for Border Security & Asylum relating to the Sentencing Act

Found: largely as a result of: • Transformational reform of the criminal justice system, including the Sentencing Act

Found: sentencing framework has remained largely unchanged for many years, and was largely unaffected by the Sentencing Act

Found: We have gone further with the measures in the Sentencing Act 2026, which will be implemented on 1 June

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps he has taken to expand the capacity of English prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places across England and Wales and have already delivered around 3,200 places since July 2024. We remain on track to meet this commitment by 2031. In stark contrast, the previous government built only 500 additional net places over 14 years.

Our expansion programme includes the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike which opened in spring 2025, alongside the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate. We have committed a further investment of £4.7bn over the current spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) to support the delivery of these places, including breaking ground at the new HMP Welland Oaks site in Leicestershire in November 2025. We are building two further new prisons next to the existing HMP Garth in Lancashire and HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire, and we are committed to undertaking critical maintenance work across the prison estate.

We continue to explore options so the prison estate can move from crisis management to a more resilient and rehabilitative system. This will ensure the estate can meet future demand and improve conditions. Alongside our build programme, we have brought forward the Sentencing Act to place prison capacity on a sustainable footing and avoids the pressure seen in recent years.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his Department’s policy to build more prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places across England and Wales and have already delivered around 3,200 places since July 2024. We remain on track to meet this commitment by 2031. In stark contrast, the previous government built only 500 additional net places over 14 years.

Our expansion programme includes the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike which opened in spring 2025, alongside the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate. We have committed a further investment of £4.7bn over the current spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) to support the delivery of these places, including breaking ground at the new HMP Welland Oaks site in Leicestershire in November 2025. We are building two further new prisons next to the existing HMP Garth in Lancashire and HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire, and we are committed to undertaking critical maintenance work across the prison estate.

We continue to explore options so the prison estate can move from crisis management to a more resilient and rehabilitative system. This will ensure the estate can meet future demand and improve conditions. Alongside our build programme, we have brought forward the Sentencing Act to place prison capacity on a sustainable footing and avoids the pressure seen in recent years.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether offenders servicing sentences for sexual abuse against children are eligible for the Early Release Scheme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited a prisons system days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, including through the progression model which will help ensure there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe.

The changes to release only apply to offenders serving Standard Determinate Sentences. Over 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences like extended Determinate Sentences or life sentences will be unaffected by these reforms and will continue to be released under their existing arrangements.

Once released, offenders will be managed under strict licence conditions in the community. Offenders released on licence can be recalled if they breach their conditions or if they cannot be safely managed in the community.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether prisoners convicted of being parts of grooming gangs will be released early under the Sentencing Act 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The grooming gang scandal was one of the worst of our time, and this Government is determined to get to the truth behind years of systemic failure in the response to the appalling crimes which gang members committed. Prosecutions and convictions are now at their highest ever levels, and we have made grooming an aggravating factor so that the horrific impact of this offending on victims and survivors is recognised in sentencing.

The changes to release do not apply to offenders serving Sentences for Offenders of Particular Concern Extended Determinate Sentences or life sentences. As a result, over 18,000 of the most dangerous offenders are entirely unaffected by these reforms and will continue to be released under their existing arrangements.

Once released, offenders will be managed under strict licence conditions in the community. Offenders released on licence can be recalled if they breach their conditions or if they cannot be safely managed in the community.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders (broken down by type of offence) will be released at each of the scheduled early releases as part of the earned progression model as laid out by The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited a prisons system days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, including through the progression model which will help ensure there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe.

The progression model amends release points for offenders on standard determinate sentences. As a result of the new release points, some offenders currently in prison will be eligible for earlier release. To ensure the release of these prisoners is done as safely as possible, prisoners will be released in ten monthly tranches, running from 2 September 2026 to June 2027.

It is not possible to know future release data precisely so far in advance, including because eligible offenders might be sentenced to prison between now and the commencement date for tranche 1 on 2 September 2026. There will also be current prisoners who have not yet had ongoing, additional criminal proceedings against them completed. Nor do we know any added days for bad behaviour committed between now and the final tranche in June 2027.

The Ministry of Justice routinely publishes Accredited Official Statistics on prisoner releases as part of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly (OMSQ) publication.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that offenders convicted for offences related to child sexual exploitation and grooming are not considered for early release under the earned progression scheme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The grooming gang scandal was one of the worst of our time, and this Government is determined to get to the truth behind years of systemic failure in the response to the appalling crimes which gang members committed. Prosecutions and convictions are now at their highest ever levels, and we have made grooming an aggravating factor so that the horrific impact of this offending on victims and survivors is recognised in sentencing.

Around 18,000 prisoners are entirely excluded from the release point changes being introduced by the Sentencing Act.

The changes to release points do not apply to Sentences for Offenders of Particular Concern (including rape or assault by penetration of a child under 13), Extended Determinate Sentences and Life sentences.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the use of terrorist connection provisions under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020 in cases where no terrorism offence has been (a) charged and (b) proven before a jury on due process and public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers I gave on 18 June 2026 to Questions 9355, 9356 and 9357.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims have been sent letters advising them their perpetrator may be released from prison early as a result of the Sentencing Act 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse, and we are fixing this crisis. Through the introduction of the landmark Sentencing Act, we are ensuring that courts retain the ability to impose custodial sentences on serious and dangerous offenders. Without these measures, the prison estate would have faced the risk of exhausting available capacity.

The progression model introduced by the Sentencing Act will come into force on 2 September 2026. The revised release arrangements apply to sentence types rather than to specific offences or individual cases. More than 18,000 of the most serious and dangerous offenders are excluded from these changes and will continue to serve custodial terms in line with existing arrangements.

Eligible victims who have opted into the Probation Service Victim Contact Scheme, where the offender is serving a standard determinate sentence, are being informed of the commencement of the legislation. Victim Liaison Officers will write to victims again to confirm whether the offender’s release date has changed as a result of the new arrangements.

As of 23 June 2026, 7,308 victims had been contacted and informed of the legislative changes. This figure should not be interpreted as the number of offenders affected, as not all offenders will necessarily receive an earlier release date. Additionally, not all victims choose to participate in the Victim Contact Scheme, and some offenders have multiple victims.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners were released early under emergency release schemes in each of the last five years.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Without the changes this Government made, courts would have had to halt trials, and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety and leading to a disastrous impact on public confidence in the Criminal Justice System.

We regularly publish data on releases from prison, including on forms of early release – for example we publish SDS40 data alongside the quarterly Offender Management statistics and, before that, on End of Custody Supervised Licence (the early release scheme ran by the previous Government).

Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data - GOV.UK

End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) detailed data - GOV.UK

Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, ensuring there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions has she had with the Secretary of State for Justice about the potential merits of implementing a Domestic Abuse and Stalkers Register.

Answered by Natalie Fleet - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy we committed to improving the criminal justice system response to ensure perpetrators are managed robustly across all criminal justice agencies to stop future harm.

In the Sentencing Act 2026, the Government announced the introduction of a new domestic abuse marker in the criminal court. For the first time, we will be able to identify all domestic abuse offenders, and support HM Prisons and Probation Service to manage these offenders. The Home Office will continue to work with the Ministry of Justice to implement this and other VAWG Strategy commitments to ensure robust management of domestic abuse and stalking offenders.

Furthermore, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as ‘Clare’s Law’, allows police to disclose information about a partner or ex-partner’s past abusive or violent behaviour with someone at risk, using police common law powers to prevent crime.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what process is followed if an individual claims to be a child in a court proceeding and is convicted and sentenced on that basis, but it is subsequently revealed that they are an adult.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Where a person's age is in question in criminal proceedings, it is for the court to determine their age on the basis of the evidence available. This is set out in section 405 of the Sentencing Act 2020, section 150(4) of the Magistrates Court Act 1980, and section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982.

If the court has made that determination and sentenced the individual on that basis, case law has established that the sentence remains valid even if the individual’s age is later shown to be different (see Brown [1989] 5 WLUK 246 and Steed [1990] 5 WLUK 72). We are not aware of any cases where an individual has been convicted and sentenced as a child but subsequently found to be a child.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the maximum fine that may be imposed by the courts for a householder (a) refusing access to a council tax valuation officer who has given notice as required of the exercise of their power of entry into their dwelling or the curtilage of their dwelling and (b) failing to give information about a dwelling to a valuation officer who has served notice as required.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

A person who intentionally delays or obstructs a valuation officer in the exercise of their duty may be subject to a fine of up to £200. Where a person fails to, without a reasonable excuse, provide information requested, which they are in possession or control of, they may be subject to a fine of up to £500. These fines are set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Sentencing Act 2020.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of short custodial sentences on the reoffending rate.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Evidence published in both 2015 and 2019, which matched groups of offenders, found that short sentences were associated with higher reoffending compared to court orders by approximately 4 percentage points. We have followed this evidence and the Sentencing Act of January 2026 introduces the presumption that courts will suspend short custodial sentences of 12-months or less; this is based on the evidence that shows community orders and suspended sentences can be more effective at reducing reoffending than short custodial sentences.

We are not abolishing short sentences completely; judges will always retain the power to send offenders to prison where they have breached a court order, an individual is at significant risk of physical or psychological harm or in exceptional circumstances that do not justify a suspended sentence.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his department has made of the potential impact of the early releases of offenders on public confidence in the justice system.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has been passed, to ensure we never run out of prison space again and to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

The Sentencing Act 2026 introduces a new “Progression model” for standard determinate sentences, which creates a three-stage sentence: time in custody, a period of intensive supervision in the community, and a final licence stage. Offenders found by the court to be dangerous – those on Extended Determinate Sentences – will not be eligible. They will not be released any earlier than they are now; they can only be released after serving at least two-thirds of their custodial term when deemed safe by the Parole Board.  Likewise, offenders serving a life sentence or a Sentence for Offenders of Particular Concern will be out of scope of the progression model.

Under the model, for offenders serving standard determinate sentences, the Act states that the earliest release point will be one-third. For those serving standard determinate plus sentences for certain serious violent or sexual offences, their earliest possible release will be one-half.  Those who behave badly can be held in custody for longer through the independent adjudications process. The maximum number of added days per incident will be doubled.

All offenders will remain on licence to the end of their sentence and where an offender breaches their licence conditions, probation have a full suite of options for managing this, including recall to prison. We are also introducing restriction zones for the most serious sexual and violent offenders where appropriate, which will be enforced by electronic monitoring. Victims who are eligible and opted into the Victim Contact Scheme will be notified of an offender’s release, in line with existing practice and will continue to be able to make representations for licence conditions such as exclusion zones and no-contact orders.

This Government is committed to supporting all victims, including those who have experienced violence or domestic abuse. We are investing a record £550 million into victim support services over the next three years. Our Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, “Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls” also outlines the concrete actions we are taking to halve VAWG in a decade, including by bearing down on perpetrators and supporting victims to get justice and heal.

The measures in the Act highlight that this Government is committed to strengthening public protection and ensuring the Probation Service has the tools and capacity it needs to keep communities safe, protect victims and change lives.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the early release of offenders on victims of (a) violent crime and (b) domestic violence.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has been passed, to ensure we never run out of prison space again and to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

The Sentencing Act 2026 introduces a new “Progression model” for standard determinate sentences, which creates a three-stage sentence: time in custody, a period of intensive supervision in the community, and a final licence stage. Offenders found by the court to be dangerous – those on Extended Determinate Sentences – will not be eligible. They will not be released any earlier than they are now; they can only be released after serving at least two-thirds of their custodial term when deemed safe by the Parole Board.  Likewise, offenders serving a life sentence or a Sentence for Offenders of Particular Concern will be out of scope of the progression model.

Under the model, for offenders serving standard determinate sentences, the Act states that the earliest release point will be one-third. For those serving standard determinate plus sentences for certain serious violent or sexual offences, their earliest possible release will be one-half.  Those who behave badly can be held in custody for longer through the independent adjudications process. The maximum number of added days per incident will be doubled.

All offenders will remain on licence to the end of their sentence and where an offender breaches their licence conditions, probation have a full suite of options for managing this, including recall to prison. We are also introducing restriction zones for the most serious sexual and violent offenders where appropriate, which will be enforced by electronic monitoring. Victims who are eligible and opted into the Victim Contact Scheme will be notified of an offender’s release, in line with existing practice and will continue to be able to make representations for licence conditions such as exclusion zones and no-contact orders.

This Government is committed to supporting all victims, including those who have experienced violence or domestic abuse. We are investing a record £550 million into victim support services over the next three years. Our Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, “Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls” also outlines the concrete actions we are taking to halve VAWG in a decade, including by bearing down on perpetrators and supporting victims to get justice and heal.

The measures in the Act highlight that this Government is committed to strengthening public protection and ensuring the Probation Service has the tools and capacity it needs to keep communities safe, protect victims and change lives.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will outline his plans for increasing the number of early prison releases.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has been passed, to ensure we never run out of prison space again and to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

The Sentencing Act 2026 introduces a new “Progression model” for standard determinate sentences, which creates a three-stage sentence: time in custody, a period of intensive supervision in the community, and a final licence stage. Offenders found by the court to be dangerous – those on Extended Determinate Sentences – will not be eligible. They will not be released any earlier than they are now; they can only be released after serving at least two-thirds of their custodial term when deemed safe by the Parole Board.  Likewise, offenders serving a life sentence or a Sentence for Offenders of Particular Concern will be out of scope of the progression model.

Under the model, for offenders serving standard determinate sentences, the Act states that the earliest release point will be one-third. For those serving standard determinate plus sentences for certain serious violent or sexual offences, their earliest possible release will be one-half.  Those who behave badly can be held in custody for longer through the independent adjudications process. The maximum number of added days per incident will be doubled.

All offenders will remain on licence to the end of their sentence and where an offender breaches their licence conditions, probation have a full suite of options for managing this, including recall to prison. We are also introducing restriction zones for the most serious sexual and violent offenders where appropriate, which will be enforced by electronic monitoring. Victims who are eligible and opted into the Victim Contact Scheme will be notified of an offender’s release, in line with existing practice and will continue to be able to make representations for licence conditions such as exclusion zones and no-contact orders.

This Government is committed to supporting all victims, including those who have experienced violence or domestic abuse. We are investing a record £550 million into victim support services over the next three years. Our Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, “Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls” also outlines the concrete actions we are taking to halve VAWG in a decade, including by bearing down on perpetrators and supporting victims to get justice and heal.

The measures in the Act highlight that this Government is committed to strengthening public protection and ensuring the Probation Service has the tools and capacity it needs to keep communities safe, protect victims and change lives.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received advice on the use of terrorism-connection sentencing provisions under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020 in cases where no terrorism offence was charged or proven before a jury.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts. In England and Wales, the terrorist connection aggravating factor applies where an offence is not itself a terrorism offence but takes place in the course of an act of terrorism or is committed for the purposes of terrorism, as defined at section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The determination of such an aggravating factor is a matter for the sentencing judge, not the jury. The existence of aggravating factors is a well-established principle in sentencing and their application does not prejudice the fairness of a trial.

Parliament has provided courts with a broad range of sentencing powers to deal effectively and appropriately with offenders. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice for them to do so.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for sentencing policy, and the Secretary of State for Justice receives advice on such matters as appropriate. The Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold data on the number of sentences aggravated by a terrorism connection under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many defendants have been subject to terrorism-connection sentencing provisions under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020 in cases where (a) no terrorism offence was charged and (b) no terrorism offence was proven before a jury, in each of the last five years.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts. In England and Wales, the terrorist connection aggravating factor applies where an offence is not itself a terrorism offence but takes place in the course of an act of terrorism or is committed for the purposes of terrorism, as defined at section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The determination of such an aggravating factor is a matter for the sentencing judge, not the jury. The existence of aggravating factors is a well-established principle in sentencing and their application does not prejudice the fairness of a trial.

Parliament has provided courts with a broad range of sentencing powers to deal effectively and appropriately with offenders. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice for them to do so.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for sentencing policy, and the Secretary of State for Justice receives advice on such matters as appropriate. The Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold data on the number of sentences aggravated by a terrorism connection under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of applying terrorism-connection sentencing provisions to defendants in cases where the existence of those provisions was not disclosed to the jury on the right to a fair trial.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts. In England and Wales, the terrorist connection aggravating factor applies where an offence is not itself a terrorism offence but takes place in the course of an act of terrorism or is committed for the purposes of terrorism, as defined at section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The determination of such an aggravating factor is a matter for the sentencing judge, not the jury. The existence of aggravating factors is a well-established principle in sentencing and their application does not prejudice the fairness of a trial.

Parliament has provided courts with a broad range of sentencing powers to deal effectively and appropriately with offenders. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice for them to do so.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for sentencing policy, and the Secretary of State for Justice receives advice on such matters as appropriate. The Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold data on the number of sentences aggravated by a terrorism connection under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help decrease the number of short-term sentences which lead to rapid turnover in prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Sentencing Act, which received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026, makes reforms to reduce the use of short custodial sentences, tackle the cycle of reoffending and place the criminal justice system on a more sustainable footing.

The Act introduces a presumption for the courts to suspend short custodial sentences of 12 months or less. We are not abolishing short sentences, judges will always retain the power to send offenders to prison where they have breached a court order, an individual is at significant risk of physical or psychological harm, or in exceptional circumstances that do not justify a suspended sentence. We have also given courts the power to suspend sentences of up to 3 years (increased from 2 years) and extend the period the sentence can be suspended for to 3 years when the court suspends a sentence of over 2 years.

Evidence shows community orders and suspended sentences can be more effective at reducing reoffending than short custodial sentences. Around 60% of adults jailed for under a year reoffend within 12 months. Ministry of Justice matched cohort research shows offenders released from short prison sentences of less than 12 months reoffend at a higher rate (up to 4pp) than similar offenders given a community or suspended sentence. We are following the evidence to reduce crime, leading to fewer victims and safer communities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal cases have been prosecuted with a "terrorism connection" under the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

The Home Office publishes official statistics on terrorism-related court outcomes in the quarterly statistical release Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes data on the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences, by offence, and the number convicted, by offence. The published tables also distinguish between offences under terrorism legislation and offences under non-terrorism legislation where the offence is considered terrorism-related. The latest statistical release is available for the year ending December 2025: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide a list of the criminal charges which have been prosecuted with a "terrorism connection" under the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes official statistics on terrorism-related court outcomes in the quarterly statistical release Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes data on the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences, by offence, and the number convicted, by offence. The published tables also distinguish between offences under terrorism legislation and offences under non-terrorism legislation where the offence is considered terrorism-related. The latest statistical release is available for the year ending December 2025: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Sentencing Council guidelines for animal cruelty.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

When deciding what sentence to impose the courts are required to take into account the circumstances of the offence and the offender, including the culpability of the offender and the harm they caused. In setting a sentence, courts must follow any relevant sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council, unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so.

In July 2023, the Council issued a guideline on animal cruelty, which provides the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. It sets out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is. This is available on its website at: https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/animal-cruelty/.

As with all the guidelines it issues, the Council will monitor the operation of this guideline and will evaluate its effect after it has been in force for a period of time to allow sufficient evidence to be gathered and analysed.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increased the maximum sentences for these offences, making them triable either way and now carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine (an increase from six months).

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on immediate custody sentences for animal cruelty in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The Government keeps the sentencing framework, including maximum penalties, under review.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of the use of custodial sentences for animal cruelty offences since the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 became law.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

When deciding what sentence to impose the courts are required to take into account the circumstances of the offence and the offender, including the culpability of the offender and the harm they caused. In setting a sentence, courts must follow any relevant sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council, unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so.

In July 2023, the Council issued a guideline on animal cruelty, which provides the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. It sets out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is. This is available on its website at: https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/animal-cruelty/.

As with all the guidelines it issues, the Council will monitor the operation of this guideline and will evaluate its effect after it has been in force for a period of time to allow sufficient evidence to be gathered and analysed.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increased the maximum sentences for these offences, making them triable either way and now carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine (an increase from six months).

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on immediate custody sentences for animal cruelty in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The Government keeps the sentencing framework, including maximum penalties, under review.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment has been made of trends in the level of prison overcrowding.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Crowding data is published regularly in HMPPS’s Annual Digest, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-april-2024-to-march-2025.

The most recent data for the 12 months ending March 2025 shows:

• The crowding rate in prisons across England and Wales was 24.8%.

• Crowding levels have been around 25% since 2015.

• 21,616 prisoners were held in crowded conditions (i.e in accommodation above Certified Normal Accommodation).

• The adult male closed estate had a combined crowding rate of 28.7%.

We recognise that crowding can make it hard to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressures on staff. This is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs. Alongside this, we are increasing capacity at record rates, we have already delivered c.3,100 prison places since taking office. Our landmark Sentencing Act will also pave the way for further reform of our prison system so we can create better conditions and outcomes for prisoners.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners are currently held in cells operating above certified normal accommodation; and what proportion of the adult male closed estate is operating above 100% of certified normal accommodation.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Crowding data is published regularly in HMPPS’s Annual Digest, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-april-2024-to-march-2025.

The most recent data for the 12 months ending March 2025 shows:

• The crowding rate in prisons across England and Wales was 24.8%.

• Crowding levels have been around 25% since 2015.

• 21,616 prisoners were held in crowded conditions (i.e in accommodation above Certified Normal Accommodation).

• The adult male closed estate had a combined crowding rate of 28.7%.

We recognise that crowding can make it hard to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressures on staff. This is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs. Alongside this, we are increasing capacity at record rates, we have already delivered c.3,100 prison places since taking office. Our landmark Sentencing Act will also pave the way for further reform of our prison system so we can create better conditions and outcomes for prisoners.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an Equality Impact Assessment on the provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 with specific reference to the progression model; and, if so, whether it has been published.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

An Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken for the provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026, including those relating to the Progression model. This analysis was published in the Sentencing Bill equality statement, which is available on GOV.UK via the following link and has also been attached as an annex: Sentencing Bill equalities statement

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle deliberate harm to wild birds and animals in rural areas.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals. The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 makes it illegal to commit malicious acts against a wild mammal. Anyone who commits an offence under this legislation could face up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.

In addition, while the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 generally protects domesticated animals, it can extend to wildlife as it prohibits causing unnecessary suffering to wild animals under human control, for example when they are held in a hand. Under this Act, the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is five years.

Defra supports the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime. The NWCU undertakes analysis that highlights local or national threats and assists law enforcers in their investigations. Defra is providing £530,000 for NWCU in the financial year 2026-2027.

Furthermore, this Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy includes a commitment to consider strengthening penalties for wider acts of cruelty to wildlife so they are consistent with penalties for cruelty to pets and livestock. It also makes clear that this Government will deliver on the manifesto commitment to ban the use of snare traps in England.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the statistical analysis of prison leavers in England entitled Prison leavers in substance misuse treatment: 4-week outcomes – report, published 23 April 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Department of Health and Social Care’s analytical report on Prison Leavers in Substance Misuse Treatment: 4-week outcomes provides valuable data on the early outcomes of prison leavers receiving substance misuse treatment, including mortality and reincarceration rates, and differences in treatment engagement for different cohorts. We recognise that the first few weeks after release are high-risk for relapse, overdose and reoffending, and we are determined to ensure prison leavers have a smooth transition into the community, with swift access to care and treatment.

In England, improving health outcomes for people in prison and on probation is a shared priority across the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. We have recruited over 50 Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators to strengthen links between prison, probation and treatment providers. We are improving information sharing between treatment providers and probation and enabling virtual pre-release appointments with community treatment providers via secure laptops. NHS England’s RECONNECT service also supports prison leavers with identified health needs to engage with the right health services in the community through referrals and peer support.

The report indicates that people in prison for shorter periods were less likely to be in treatment. This aligns with the rationale for key provisions within the Sentencing Act 2026, including the introduction of a presumption for the courts to suspend short sentences of 12 months or less. Around 60% of adults sentenced for under a year reoffend within 12 months. This is unacceptably high for victims and the public. The evidence shows that those given a community order or suspended sentence reoffend less than similar offenders given a short prison sentence.

We have also made changes to fixed term recall. The Independent Sentencing Review found the previous shorter 14 and 28 day fixed-term recalls did not provide enough time for offenders to address their criminal behaviour. 56 days provides more time to undertake a risk assessment and a thorough review of risk management plans to ensure offenders can be safely managed in the community.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Office for Equalities and Opportunities on the potential impact of the shortening of custodial sentences on women's centres' (a) resources and (b) capacity, in relation to women who were previously receiving support whilst incarcerated.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Sentencing Act introduces a presumption to suspend short sentences. Along with increased use of suspended sentences and increased flexibility to defer a sentence for longer, this is expected to reduce the number of women going to prison. We know that around 60% of adults sentenced for under a year reoffend within 12 months, and evidence shows that those given a community-based sentence reoffend less than similar offenders given a short prison sentence.

Women’s centres play an important role in supporting women in the justice system – they are funded from a range of sources, including government grants and independent funding from trusts and foundations.

HMPPS-funded Women’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services provide support for women in custody and the community and are delivered by specialist organisations including women’s centres. These services are currently being recommissioned and the future Community Support service will commence around September 2028.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice is providing £31.6 million in funding over the 2026-2029 Spending Review period for women’s community and voluntary organisations to strengthen diversion pathways and build capacity within the sector. This funding represents an increase of £10 million across the period.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of overcrowding in prisons on (a) prisoner violence and (b) attacks on prison staff.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in crowded conditions. That is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase prison capacity.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in crowded conditions. That is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle overcrowding in prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in crowded conditions. That is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of prison overcrowding on staff safety.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Ministry of Justice research on crowding and violence in the adult closed estate in 2022 shows that prisoners in overcrowded cells are 19% more likely to be involved in an assault over a one-year period than those in cells that are not overcrowded.

The details of this report can be found here: The impact of overcrowding on assaults in closed adult public prisons - GOV.UK

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Found: Act 2024(2); (b)the following rules, which come into force at the same time as section 6 of the Sentencing Act

Found: Sections 11 and 12 were amended by section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11

Found: days is 42 days”; (b)in paragraph (2)— (i)omit “section 99 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: . 19), section 1(4) of the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019, paragraph 216 of Schedule 24 to the Sentencing Act

Found: days is 42 days”; (b)in paragraph (2)— (i)omit “section 99 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Free court transcripts

Found: Clinks CEO, Dr Summer Alston-Smith, said: The Sentencing Act was a welcome first step in addressing

Found: change was only made possible by this Government stabilising the prison system and introducing the Sentencing Act

Found: Stay rights, and updating the list of offences in scope in alignment with section 45 of the Sentencing Act

Found: sentencing framework has remained largely unchanged for many years, and was largely unaffected by the Sentencing Act

Found: The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 amended the OMA 2007 to permit polygraph testing with

Found: The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 amended the OMA 2007 to permit polygraph testing with

Found: The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 amended the OMA 2007 to permit polygraph testing 130

Found: Government commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review into prison overcrowding, with the Sentencing Act

Found: Government commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review into prison overcrowding, with the Sentencing Act

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: By Section 60 of the Sentencing Act, the court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: command. 2 | P a g e Intentional strangulation is an offence to which Schedule 18 in the Sentencing Act

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: This is an offence which is covered by schedule 18 of the Sentencing Act.

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

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Found: Minimum custodial sentences The Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 introduced minimum

Found: context of rising prison capacity pressures and changes to the criminal justice system under the Sentencing Act

Found: offenders who are defined as third time burglars by section 111 of the Power of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

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Found: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971YDUnder s.25 Public Order Act 1986YEUnder s.143 Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: Parenting Order, the Court will specify a responsible officer in line with section 372(5) of the Sentencing Act

Found: • Children subject to a Detention and Training Orders, Section 233 Sentencing Act 2020 • children

Found: 12 months (or, in relation to offences committed before paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or other prosecution agency confirming pseudonym is for a SOCPA/Sentencing Act

Found: **Key Updates and Changes (reflecting the Sentencing Act 2026):** 1.

Found: relation to Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, courts derive their authority from the Sentencing Act

Found: updates 31/03/2026 - updated to reflect the following legislative changes introduced by the Sentencing Act

Found: Person Stalking and Harassment 8L Harassment Breach of a restraining order issued on conviction Sentencing Act

Found: nationals with no right to be in the UK. 395 2026-03-22 00:00:00 Y Y Section 45 of the Sentencing Act

Found: Crown Court: Representation Order Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 Part 1A of Schedule

Found: purposes of this guidance includes one or more of the offences detailed at Schedule 18 of the Sentencing Act

Found: purposes of this guidance includes one or more of the offences detailed at Schedule 18 of the Sentencing Act

Found: (G1) In relation to an offence committed before paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Book has also been updated to include the following statutory amendments: Section 45 of the Sentencing Act

Found: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or other prosecution agency confirming pseudonym is for a SOCPA/Sentencing Act

Found: relation to Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, courts derive their authority from the Sentencing Act

Found: updates 31/03/2026 - updated to reflect the following legislative changes introduced by the Sentencing Act

Found: Sentencing of offences under section 250, 252A or 259 of the Sentencing Act 2020 can be anywhere up

Found: from existing legislation, in particular the Equality Act 2010 and the Sentencing Act

Found: sample of court cases in September 2026, and the workshop content will be updated to reflect Sentencing Act

Found: Government commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review into prison overcrowding, with the Sentencing Act

Found: Government commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review into prison overcrowding, with the Sentencing Act

Found: justice system.Government Legal Department Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 22 Case Study: The Sentencing Act

Found: borders and between the UK and EU after Brexit (Northern Ireland Office) • implementing the Sentencing Act

Found: The Sentencing Act 2020 introduced changes to some sentences.

Found: FD queried the impact of upcoming Sentencing Act changes on legal aid application assessments, particularly

Found: context of rising prison capacity pressures and changes to the criminal justice system under the Sentencing Act

Found: The court also made a Compensation Order under the Sentencing Act 2020 and ordered that all sums paid

Found: the “applicable limit” set out in section 224(1A) (b) of the Sentencing Code, contained in the Sentencing Act

Found: Do not include children detained under Sections 90 to 92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: and Security Act 2015 • Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 • Sentencing Act

Found: The Welsh Government raised concerns about the Sentencing Act and its potential impact on victims, particularly

Found: reserved for only the most serious wrongdoing. 11.2 The Sentencing Code in P arts 2 to 13 of the Sentencing Act