Found: The Sentencing Act 2020 covers hostility based on protected characteristics.

Found: Reforms introduced through the Sentencing Act 2026, including a presumption to suspend short custodial

Found: 1986, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (CDA 1998), the Football (Offences) Act 1991 and the Sentencing Act

Found: Act 1986, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (CDA 1998), the Football (Offences) Act 1991 and the Sentencing Act

Found: detention) in s.288(3)(ea) of AFA06, with the correct power - paragraph 13 of Schedule 16 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Installations (Prescribed Conditions and Excepted Matter) Regulations 2025 S.I. 2025/1207 The Sentencing Act

Found: Amendments to the Sentencing Act 2020, introduced via the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

Found: To move the following Clause— “Aggravating factor: hostility to the democratic process In the Sentencing Act

Found: To move the following Clause— “Aggravating factor: hostility to the democratic process In the Sentencing Act

Found: identify the purpose(s) of sentencing before requesting pre-sentence reports, and under the Sentencing Act

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department's amendment of Section 288(2) of the Sentencing Code will take effect.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026. This measure commences automatically 2 months after Royal Assent, on 22 March 2026.

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 proposed change to standard recall length, from the current 28 days to 56 days, on pregnant women and mothers of dependent children.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Recall is a last resort for cases where risk in the community becomes unmanageable.

The Department published an Equalities Impact Statement alongside the Sentencing Act, which can be found here: Sentencing Bill equalities statement.

It was assessed that the Act’s recall measures will not disproportionately impact those with protected characteristics.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has conducted research into the potential impacts on long-term rehabilitation of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Section 67 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 requires the Secretary of State to prepare and publish an annual report about the steps taken to support the rehabilitation of IPP and Detention for Public Protection (DPP) offenders and their progress towards release from prison or licence termination and lay the report before Parliament.

Although there has not been research conducted in this area the Government published its latest IPP Annual Report on 17 July 2025, which included a commitment for HMPPS Psychology Services to complete a review of the Never Released IPP cohort. The review aims to ensure the current barriers to IPP progression are considered and services reviewed relating to these findings to support IPP progression. We will report on the outcome of this review in our next Annual Report, which is due to be published this summer.

The 2025 Annual Report also contained a refreshed version of the IPP Action Plan, which includes measurable targets to ensure transparency and accountability.

Through the IPP Action Plan we have significantly improved support for those serving the IPP sentence, with greater access to rehabilitation and mental health support.

Changes we have made in the Sentencing Act 2026 will provide IPP offenders with an earlier opportunity for licence termination, whilst allowing suitable time for support and rehabilitation in the community and ensuring victims and the public are best protected from harm.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will consider the potential merits of retrospectively abolishing Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

It is right that the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence was abolished. Public protection will always be the top priority and abolishing the IPP sentence retrospectively would result in prisoners being released whom the independent Parole Board has determined are too dangerous. This would pose an unacceptable risk of harm to victims and the public.

We are determined to support those serving IPP sentences, but not in a way that undermines public protection. This is why the Government made changes in the Sentencing Act 2026 to provide IPP offenders with an earlier opportunity for licence termination, whilst allowing suitable time for support and rehabilitation in the community and ensuring victims and the public are best protected from harm

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Free access to sentencing remarks for all victims, published on 19 January 2026, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of including free access for victims to judges' remarks on cases that result in acquittal.

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

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on (a) the amounts victims of crime have paid to obtain sentencing remarks, (b) the number of victims who have withdrawn their request, or (c) the reasons for any withdrawal.

Currently, bereaved families of homicide victims and victims of rape and other sexual offences are eligible to apply for a free transcript of the relevant sentencing remarks. This provision is being expanded to all victims where the case in question was sentenced in the Crown Court, through the Sentencing Act. Sentencing remarks were selected for this provision as they provide a clear summary of the case and explain how the trial outcome was reached. Extending free provision to cases resulting in an acquittal is not possible as there would be no equivalent to sentencing remarks to transcribe and provide.

We continue to work closely with the judiciary and criminal justice partners to ensure victims are provided with clear, accessible information at every stage of the process, including where a defendant is acquitted. This includes through existing channels such as Witness Care Units, who hold a responsibility under Right 9 of the Victims Code to update victims on the outcome of the case or trial including, where available, a brief summary of reasons for the decision.

Expansion of free provision to summary remarks in the magistrates’ courts is not currently under consideration. As trial and sentencing proceedings in the magistrates’ courts are not currently recorded, transcripts cannot be provided either through payment or free of charge. This is being kept under review as the system moves towards the recording of magistrates’ proceedings.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled ‘Free access to sentencing remarks for all victims’ published on 19 January 2026, whether his Department has any plans to extend free access for victims to judge's remarks to cases heard in magistrates courts.

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

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on (a) the amounts victims of crime have paid to obtain sentencing remarks, (b) the number of victims who have withdrawn their request, or (c) the reasons for any withdrawal.

Currently, bereaved families of homicide victims and victims of rape and other sexual offences are eligible to apply for a free transcript of the relevant sentencing remarks. This provision is being expanded to all victims where the case in question was sentenced in the Crown Court, through the Sentencing Act. Sentencing remarks were selected for this provision as they provide a clear summary of the case and explain how the trial outcome was reached. Extending free provision to cases resulting in an acquittal is not possible as there would be no equivalent to sentencing remarks to transcribe and provide.

We continue to work closely with the judiciary and criminal justice partners to ensure victims are provided with clear, accessible information at every stage of the process, including where a defendant is acquitted. This includes through existing channels such as Witness Care Units, who hold a responsibility under Right 9 of the Victims Code to update victims on the outcome of the case or trial including, where available, a brief summary of reasons for the decision.

Expansion of free provision to summary remarks in the magistrates’ courts is not currently under consideration. As trial and sentencing proceedings in the magistrates’ courts are not currently recorded, transcripts cannot be provided either through payment or free of charge. This is being kept under review as the system moves towards the recording of magistrates’ proceedings.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of victims of crime who withdrew their request for a copy of a judge's sentencing remarks due to the cost since 2020.

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

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on (a) the amounts victims of crime have paid to obtain sentencing remarks, (b) the number of victims who have withdrawn their request, or (c) the reasons for any withdrawal.

Currently, bereaved families of homicide victims and victims of rape and other sexual offences are eligible to apply for a free transcript of the relevant sentencing remarks. This provision is being expanded to all victims where the case in question was sentenced in the Crown Court, through the Sentencing Act. Sentencing remarks were selected for this provision as they provide a clear summary of the case and explain how the trial outcome was reached. Extending free provision to cases resulting in an acquittal is not possible as there would be no equivalent to sentencing remarks to transcribe and provide.

We continue to work closely with the judiciary and criminal justice partners to ensure victims are provided with clear, accessible information at every stage of the process, including where a defendant is acquitted. This includes through existing channels such as Witness Care Units, who hold a responsibility under Right 9 of the Victims Code to update victims on the outcome of the case or trial including, where available, a brief summary of reasons for the decision.

Expansion of free provision to summary remarks in the magistrates’ courts is not currently under consideration. As trial and sentencing proceedings in the magistrates’ courts are not currently recorded, transcripts cannot be provided either through payment or free of charge. This is being kept under review as the system moves towards the recording of magistrates’ proceedings.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims of crime paid (a) £40 and (b) more than £40 to access sentencing remarks since 2020.

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

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on (a) the amounts victims of crime have paid to obtain sentencing remarks, (b) the number of victims who have withdrawn their request, or (c) the reasons for any withdrawal.

Currently, bereaved families of homicide victims and victims of rape and other sexual offences are eligible to apply for a free transcript of the relevant sentencing remarks. This provision is being expanded to all victims where the case in question was sentenced in the Crown Court, through the Sentencing Act. Sentencing remarks were selected for this provision as they provide a clear summary of the case and explain how the trial outcome was reached. Extending free provision to cases resulting in an acquittal is not possible as there would be no equivalent to sentencing remarks to transcribe and provide.

We continue to work closely with the judiciary and criminal justice partners to ensure victims are provided with clear, accessible information at every stage of the process, including where a defendant is acquitted. This includes through existing channels such as Witness Care Units, who hold a responsibility under Right 9 of the Victims Code to update victims on the outcome of the case or trial including, where available, a brief summary of reasons for the decision.

Expansion of free provision to summary remarks in the magistrates’ courts is not currently under consideration. As trial and sentencing proceedings in the magistrates’ courts are not currently recorded, transcripts cannot be provided either through payment or free of charge. This is being kept under review as the system moves towards the recording of magistrates’ proceedings.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail and British Transport Police on the potential merits of a standalone offence of assaulting a public transport worker.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts. The railway has its own dedicated police force in the British Transport Police (BTP), to protect rail staff and passengers.

Officials from my Department engage regularly with Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail and BTP, and have highlighted that public transport workers already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022. We do not consider that a standalone offence is necessary, or will have the desired outcome of reducing assaults.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legal protections against assaults at work for public transport workers.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts. The British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers.

Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022. We therefore do not believe that any further legal protections are necessary or would reduce assaults.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a standalone offence of assaulting a public transport worker.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts. The British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers.

Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022. We therefore do not believe that creating a specific offence would have the intended purpose of reducing assaults.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a criminal offence of assaulting a public transport worker.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts quickly and that the British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers.

Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022. We therefore do not believe that creating a specific offence will have the intended purpose of reducing assaults.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to work to reduce instances of crime against animals.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has taken steps to reduce crime against animals. We have provided over £800,000 in additional funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit to strengthen enforcement against offences such as poaching and illegal wildlife trade. There are strong penalties in place for offences committed against wildlife and kept animals. For kept animals we have Penalty Notices for Animal Health and Welfare Offences, giving enforcement bodies a proportionate tool for lower-level breaches. For serious animal welfare offences courts can now impose up to five years’ imprisonment for the most serious cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act. These measures improve deterrence and ensure justice.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of legal protections for public transport workers who have been assaulted in the workplace.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Following the horrific attack on the 18:25 LNER Doncaster to London service on the 1st November, my Department are working with British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry to understand if any immediate interventions are required. The heroic efforts of rail staff meant that further harm was avoided and undoubtedly saved lives.

There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts quickly and that the British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers.

Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022.

Found: Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11). (25)S.I. 2011/1830, as amended by paragraph 446 of Schedule 24 to the Sentencing Act

Found: of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019(9) (knife crime prevention order), (vii)section 331 of the Sentencing Act

Found: “appropriate Minister” as including the Secretary of State. (2)2018 c. 13, as amended by the Sentencing Act

Found: Sentencing Act 2020 (Special Procedures for Community and Suspended Sentence Orders) (Amendment) Regulations

Found: Sentencing Act 20206.  

Found: Clauses 1 and 2 would introduce these measures by inserting new sections 41A and 41B into the Sentencing Act

The Government should amend the Sentencing Act 2020 to record crimes motivated by misogyny as hate crimes and introduce tougher laws for online abuse, and fund the training of police and prosecutors, and support for survivors in education.

Found: The Government should amend the Sentencing Act 2020 to record crimes motivated by misogyny as hate crimes

The Government should make misogyny a hate crime by amending the Sentencing Act, introduce tougher laws for online abuse, train police and prosecutors, funding support for survivors in education, and tackle anti-feminist hate groups that target and radicalise young people online.

Found: The Government should make misogyny a hate crime by amending the Sentencing Act, introduce tougher laws

Found: Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2)

Found: staged rollout of its solutions to allow the service to cope with increases in demand from the Sentencing Act

Found: Published today (29 January), new projections show that without the Government’s Sentencing Act – which

Found: Sentencing Act ensuring punishment cuts crime gets Royal Assent

Found: The Sentencing Act 2026 also includes a measure to enable earlier removal of Foreign National Offenders

Found: This requirement was widened through the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act (CTSA) 2021, which expanded

Found: I. 2019/15 14 , the Co un te r -Terrorism and Sentencing Act 202 1 (c. I I ) , S.

Found: for children on Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs) who meet the custody threshold under the Sentencing Act

Found: Sentencing Act 2020 6.

Found: Sentencing Act 2020 6.

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

Found: Since 2023/24, figures also include searches under section 342E of the Sentencing Act 2020 and section

Found: England and WalesTable 7Offender outcomes for repeat possession offences under Section 315 of the Sentencing Act

Found: note that it is not possible to replicate published figures on cases under Section 315 of the Sentencing Act

Found: Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 44/47A of the Terrorism Act 2000, section 342E of the Sentencing Act

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

Found: Through the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act (CTSA) 2021, the 2007 Act was amended to enable chief

Found: For the purposes of section 44A(5) of the Police, Crime and Sentencing Act 2022, the specified counselling

Found: For the purposes of section 44A(5) of the Police, Crime and Sentencing Act 2022, the specified counselling

Found: date of the sentence or order class A drug trafficking offence) Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: date of the sentence or order class A drug trafficking offence) Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: Published today (29 January), new projections show that without the Government’s Sentencing Act – which

Found: Rather by virtue of s.278 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the judge was obliged to extend the licence period

Found: These include anyone convicted of murder and any violent offences as set out in the Sentencing Act 2020

Found: for children on Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs) who meet the custody threshold under the Sentencing Act

Found: date of the sentence or order class A drug trafficking offence) Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: date of the sentence or order class A drug trafficking offence) Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: Standards and Compliance Unit Annual Report: 2024 to 2025, April 2025. 248 Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act

Found: recommendations, the majority of which have been implemented, including via the Counter- Terrorism and Sentencing Act

Found: Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021, Part 1 (domestic abuse protection orders) • Sentencing Act

Found: Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021, Part 1 (domestic abuse protection orders) • Sentencing Act

Found: 2023 at 12.00) 2 Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act

Found: Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11). (25)S.I. 2011/1830, as amended by paragraph 446 of Schedule 24 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Sentencing Act 20206.  

Found: When the estimated impact of the Sentencing Act 2026 measures are factored in, our central projection

Found: The Sentencing Act 2026 also includes a measure to enable earlier removal of Foreign National Offenders

Found: for children on Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs) who meet the custody threshold under the Sentencing Act

Found: of deprivation orders relating to intimate image offences under the Armed Forces Act 2006 and Sentencing Act

Found: limited to, The Prison Rules 1999, Criminal Justice Act 2003, Offender Management Act 2007 and Sentencing Act

Found: a custodial sentence within the meaning of 20 section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: a custodial sentence within the meaning of 20 section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: a custodial sentence within the meaning of 20 section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: a custodial sentence within the meaning of 20 section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: served a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: serving a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: serving a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act