Sentencing Bill

A Bill to make provision about the sentencing, release and management after sentencing of offenders; to make provision about bail; to make provision about the removal from the United Kingdom of foreign criminals; and for connected purposes.

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30 Oct 2025
Lords: Committee
HL Bill 142 (as brought from the Commons)
(0 amendments)
21 Oct 2025
Commons: Report
Bill 313 2024-26 (as amended in Committee)
No digital version of this Bill was published by Parliament
Date Debate
Wednesday 29th October 2025 Report stage
2 Sep 2025
Commons: Committee
Bill 299 2024-25 (as introduced)
(118 amendments)

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Page 1

Part 1

 

Sentencing

 

Suspended sentences

 
1
Presumption of suspended sentence order for sentences of 12 months or less
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
5
 
(2)
After section 264 insert—
 
“264A
Presumption of suspended sentence order: offender under 21
 
 
(1)
This section applies where the court imposes a sentence of detention
 
 
in a young offender institution for an offence where—
 
 
(a)
the offender is aged at least 18 but under 21 when convicted
10
 
of the offence,
 
 
(b)
the offender is convicted of the offence on or after the day on
 
 
which section 1 of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force,
 
 
(c)
the term of the sentence is not more than 12 months, and
 
 
(d)
a suspended sentence order is available in relation to that
15
 
sentence (see section 264).
 
 
(2)
The court must make a suspended sentence order in relation to the
 
 
sentence where this section applies unless the court is of the opinion
 
 
that there are exceptional circumstances which—
 
 
(a)
relate to the offence (or the combination of the offence and one
20
 
or more offences associated with it) or the offender, and
 

Page 2

 
(b)
justify not making the order.
 
 
(3)
But this section does not apply if—
 
 
(a)
when the sentence is imposed the offender is in custody—
 
 
(i)
pursuant to a custodial sentence or a pre-Code custodial
 
 
sentence,
5
 
(ii)
having been remanded in custody in connection with
 
 
another offence which is not an associated offence, or
 
 
(iii)
having been committed to custody by an order of a
 
 
court,
 
 
(b)
when the sentence is imposed the offender is in custody—
10
 
(i)
pursuant to a sentence of service detention, or a
 
 
custodial sentence, within the meaning of the Armed
 
 
Forces Act 2006 (see section 374 of that Act),
 
 
(ii)
pursuant to an order under section 214 of that Act
 
 
(detention for commission of offence during currency
15
 
of detention and training order etc),
 
 
(iii)
having been kept in service custody in connection with
 
 
another offence which is not an associated offence,
 
 
(iv)
having been remanded or admitted to hospital under
 
 
section 35, 36 or 38 of the Mental Health Act 1983 as
20
 
the section in question has effect by virtue of Schedule
 
 
4 to the Armed Forces Act 2006, or
 
 
(v)
having been committed to custody by an order of a
 
 
service court,
 
 
(c)
when the sentence is imposed the offender is detained in a
25
 
hospital pursuant to—
 
 
(i)
a hospital order within the meaning of section 37 of the
 
 
Mental Health Act 1983,
 
 
(ii)
an order under section 37 of that Act as it has effect by
 
 
virtue of Schedule 4 to the Armed Forces Act 2006, or
30
 
(iii)
a direction under section 45A or 47 of the Mental Health
 
 
Act 1983,
 
 
(d)
the sentence of detention in a young offender institution is one
 
 
of two or more sentences imposed on the same occasion
 
 
where—
35
 
(i)
the term of any of those sentences is more than 12
 
 
months, or
 
 
(ii)
those sentences are to be served consecutively and the
 
 
terms of those sentences are in aggregate more than 12
 
 
months,
40
 
(e)
the offence, or an associated offence, is an offence—
 
 
(i)
in respect of which the offender is, or has been, subject
 
 
to a supervision order, and
 
 
(ii)
for which the court is re-sentencing the offender,
 
 
(f)
the offence, or an associated offence, was committed while the
45
 
offender was subject to a supervision order,
 

Page 3

 
(g)
the commission of the offence, or an associated offence,
 
 
constituted, or occurred in circumstances closely connected
 
 
with, a breach by the offender of—
 
 
(i)
an order of a court, or
 
 
(ii)
an order or award (whether or not of a court) made
5
 
(anywhere) in proceedings in respect of a service offence
 
 
within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006, or
 
 
(h)
the court is of the opinion that making the order would put a
 
 
particular individual at significant risk of physical or
 
 
psychological harm.
10
 
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (3) (a) (ii) , a person is remanded in
 
 
custody if—
 
 
(a)
remanded in or committed to custody by order of a court,
 
 
(b)
remanded to youth detention accommodation under section
 
 
91(4) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders
15
 
Act 2012 (remands of children otherwise than on bail), or
 
 
(c)
remanded, admitted or removed to hospital under section 35,
 
 
36, 38, 44 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
 
 
(5)
The pre-sentence report requirements (see section 30) apply to the
 
 
court in relation to forming the opinions mentioned in subsections (2)
20
 
and (3) (h) .
 
 
(6)
Nothing in this section affects the court’s power to impose a suspended
 
 
sentence order in a case where this section does not apply.
 
 
(7)
In this section—
 
 
“order of a court” includes an order of a tribunal;
25
 
“supervision order” means any of the following—
 
 
(a)
a community order;
 
 
(b)
a detention and training order;
 
 
(c)
an order under section 211 of the Armed Forces Act
 
 
2006 (corresponding order under that Act);
30
 
(d)
a referral order;
 
 
(e)
a service community order, or an overseas community
 
 
order, within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act
 
 
2006 (see section 374 of that Act);
 
 
(f)
a suspended sentence of service detention within the
35
 
meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (see section 190
 
 
of that Act);
 
 
(g)
a suspended sentence order;
 
 
(h)
a youth rehabilitation order.”
 
 
(3)
After section 277 insert—
40
“277A
Presumption of suspended sentence order: person aged 21 or over
 
 
(1)
This section applies where the court imposes a sentence of
 
 
imprisonment for an offence where—
 

Page 4

 
(a)
the offender is aged 21 or over when convicted of the offence,
 
 
(b)
the offender is convicted of the offence on or after the day on
 
 
which section 1 of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force,
 
 
(c)
the term of the sentence is not more than 12 months, and
 
 
(d)
a suspended sentence order is available in relation to that
5
 
sentence (see section 277).
 
 
(2)
The court must make a suspended sentence order in relation to the
 
 
sentence where this section applies unless the court is of the opinion
 
 
that there are exceptional circumstances which—
 
 
(a)
relate to the offence (or the combination of the offence and one
10
 
or more offences associated with it) or the offender, and
 
 
(b)
justify not making the order.
 
 
(3)
But this section does not apply if—
 
 
(a)
when the sentence is imposed the offender is in custody—
 
 
(i)
pursuant to a custodial sentence or a pre-Code custodial
15
 
sentence,
 
 
(ii)
having been remanded in custody in connection with
 
 
another offence which is not an associated offence, or
 
 
(iii)
having been committed to custody by an order of a
 
 
court,
20
 
(b)
when the sentence is imposed the offender is in custody—
 
 
(i)
pursuant to a sentence of service detention, or a
 
 
custodial sentence, within the meaning of the Armed
 
 
Forces Act 2006 (see section 374 of that Act),
 
 
(ii)
having been kept in service custody in connection with
25
 
another offence which is not an associated offence,
 
 
(iii)
having been remanded or admitted to hospital under
 
 
section 35, 36 or 38 of the Mental Health Act 1983 as
 
 
the section in question has effect by virtue of Schedule
 
 
4 to the Armed Forces Act 2006,
30
 
(iv)
having been committed to custody by an order of a
 
 
service court, or
 
 
(v)
pursuant to a pre-Armed Forces Act 2006 custodial
 
 
sentence,
 
 
(c)
when the sentence is imposed the offender is detained in a
35
 
hospital pursuant to—
 
 
(i)
a hospital order within the meaning of section 37 of the
 
 
Mental Health Act 1983,
 
 
(ii)
an order under section 37 of that Act as it has effect by
 
 
virtue of Schedule 4 to the Armed Forces Act 2006, or
40
 
(iii)
a direction under section 45A or 47 of the Mental Health
 
 
Act 1983,
 
 
(d)
the sentence of imprisonment is one of two or more sentences
 
 
imposed on the same occasion where—
 

Page 5

 
(i)
the term of any of those sentences is more than 12
 
 
months, or
 
 
(ii)
those sentences are to be served consecutively and the
 
 
terms of those sentences are in aggregate more than 12
 
 
months,
5
 
(e)
the offence, or an associated offence, is an offence—
 
 
(i)
in respect of which the offender is, or has been, subject
 
 
to a supervision order, and
 
 
(ii)
for which the court is re-sentencing the offender,
 
 
(f)
the offence, or an associated offence, was committed while the
10
 
offender was subject to a supervision order,
 
 
(g)
the commission of the offence, or an associated offence,
 
 
constituted, or occurred in circumstances closely connected
 
 
with, a breach by the offender of—
 
 
(i)
an order of a court, or
15
 
(ii)
an order or award (whether or not of a court) made
 
 
(anywhere) in proceedings in respect of a service offence
 
 
within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006, or
 
 
(h)
the court is of the opinion that making the order would put a
 
 
particular individual at significant risk of physical or
20
 
psychological harm.
 
 
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (3) (a) (ii) , a person is remanded in
 
 
custody if—
 
 
(a)
remanded in or committed to custody by order of a court, or
 
 
(b)
remanded, admitted or removed to hospital under section 35,
25
 
36, 38, 44 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
 
 
(5)
For the purposes of subsection (3) (b) (v) “pre-Armed Forces Act 2006
 
 
custodial sentence” means any of the following—
 
 
(a)
a sentence of imprisonment passed by—
 
 
(i)
a court-martial,
30
 
(ii)
a Standing Civilian Court,
 
 
(iii)
the Court Martial Appeal Court before 31 October 2009,
 
 
or
 
 
(iv)
the House of Lords or the Supreme Court, before 31
 
 
October 2009, on an appeal brought from a decision of
35
 
the Court Martial Appeal Court;
 
 
(b)
a sentence of custody for life under section 71A(1A) or (1B) of
 
 
the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955 or section 43A(1A)
 
 
or (1B) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957;
 
 
(c)
a sentence of detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure under
40
 
section 71A(3) of the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955
 
 
or section 43A(3) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957;
 
 
(d)
a sentence of detention under section 71A(4) of the Army Act
 
 
1955 or the Air Force Act 1955 or section 43A(4) of the Naval
 
 
Discipline Act 1957;
45

Page 6

 
(e)
a custodial order under—
 
 
(i)
section 71AA of, or paragraph 10 of Schedule 5A to,
 
 
the Army Act 1955 or Air Force Act 1955, or
 
 
(ii)
section 43AA of, or paragraph 10 of Schedule 4A to,
 
 
the Naval Discipline Act 1957.
5
 
(6)
The pre-sentence report requirements (see section 30) apply to the
 
 
court in relation to forming the opinions mentioned in subsections (2)
 
 
and (3) (h) .
 
 
(7)
Nothing in this section affects the court’s power to impose a suspended
 
 
sentence order in a case where this section does not apply.
10
 
(8)
In this section—
 
 
“order of a court” includes an order of a tribunal;
 
 
“supervision order” means any of the following—
 
 
(a)
a community order;
 
 
(b)
a detention and training order;
15
 
(c)
an order under section 211 of the Armed Forces Act
 
 
2006 (corresponding order under that Act);
 
 
(d)
a referral order;
 
 
(e)
a service community order, or an overseas community
 
 
order, within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act
20
 
2006 (see section 374 of that Act);
 
 
(f)
a suspended sentence of service detention within the
 
 
meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (see section 190
 
 
of that Act);
 
 
(g)
a suspended sentence order;
25
 
(h)
a youth rehabilitation order.”
 
 
(4)
Schedule 1 makes consequential amendments.
 
2
Custodial sentences that may be suspended
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (5) .
 
 
(2)
In section 264 (suspended sentence order for offender under 21: availability)—
30
 
(a)
in subsection (2), for “2 years” substitute “the maximum term”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (2) insert—
 
 
“(2A)
But a suspended sentence order is not available in relation to
 
 
that sentence if—
 
 
(a)
in a case where the offender is convicted of the offence
35
 
before the day on which section 2 of the Sentencing Act
 
 
2025 comes into force, subsection (3) applies, or
 
 
(b)
in a case where the offender is convicted of the offence
 
 
on or after that day, subsection (3) or (3A) applies.”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (3)—
40

Page 7

 
(i)
for the words before paragraph (a) substitute “This subsection
 
 
applies if—”;
 
 
(ii)
in paragraph (b), for “2 years” substitute “the maximum term”;
 
 
(d)
after subsection (3) insert—
 
 
“(3A)
This subsection applies if—
5
 
(a)
the court imposes a sentence under section 265 (adult
 
 
offenders of particular concern aged under 21) or 266
 
 
(extended sentence for adults aged under 21) in respect
 
 
of the offence, or
 
 
(b)
the court imposes a sentence under either of those
10
 
sections or under section 278 (adult offenders of
 
 
particular concern aged 21 and over) or 279 (extended
 
 
sentence for adults aged 21 or over) in respect of any
 
 
other offence for which a sentence is imposed on the
 
 
same occasion.
15
 
(3B)
For the purposes of this section—
 
 
(a)
if the offender is convicted of the offence before the day
 
 
on which section 2 of the Sentencing Act 2025 comes
 
 
into force, the maximum term is 2 years;
 
 
(b)
if the offender is convicted of the offence on or after
20
 
that day, the maximum term is 3 years.”
 
 
(3)
In section 277 (suspended sentence order for person aged 21 or over:
 
 
availability)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (2)(b), for “2 years” substitute “the maximum term”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (2) insert—
25
 
“(2A)
But a suspended sentence order is not available in relation to
 
 
that sentence if—
 
 
(a)
in a case where the offender is convicted of the offence
 
 
before the day on which section 2 of the Sentencing Act
 
 
2025 comes into force, subsection (3) applies, or
30
 
(b)
in a case where the offender is convicted of the offence
 
 
on or after that day, subsection (3) or (3A) applies.”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (3)—
 
 
(i)
for the words before paragraph (a) substitute “This subsection
 
 
applies if—”;
35
 
(ii)
in paragraph (b), for “2 years” substitute “the maximum term”;
 
 
(d)
after subsection (3) insert—
 
 
“(3A)
This subsection applies if—
 
 
(a)
the court imposes a sentence under section 278 (adult
 
 
offenders of particular concern aged 21 or over) or 279
40
 
(extended sentence for adults aged 21 or over) in respect
 
 
of the offence, or
 
 
(b)
the court imposes a sentence under either of those
 
 
sections or under section 265 (adult offenders of
 

Page 8

 
particular concern aged under 21) or 266 (extended
 
 
sentence for adults aged under 21) in respect of any
 
 
other offence for which a sentence is imposed on the
 
 
same occasion.
 
 
(3B)
For the purposes of this section—
5
 
(a)
if the offender is convicted of the offence before the day
 
 
on which section 2 of the Sentencing Act 2025 comes
 
 
into force, the maximum term is 2 years;
 
 
(b)
if the offender is convicted of the offence on or after
 
 
that day, the maximum term is 3 years.”
10
 
(4)
In section 288 (operational period and supervision period)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (2)(b), for “2 years” substitute “the maximum period”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (2) insert—
 
 
“(2A)
The maximum period for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) is
 
 
3 years if—
15
 
(a)
the term of the suspended sentence is more than 2 years,
 
 
or
 
 
(b)
the suspended sentence is one of two or more sentences
 
 
imposed on the same occasion which are to be served
 
 
consecutively and the terms of those sentences are in
20
 
aggregate more than 2 years.
 
 
(2B)
Otherwise the maximum period for the purposes of subsection
 
 
(2)(b) is 2 years.”
 
 
(5)
In Schedule 22 (amendments of the Sentencing Code etc), in paragraph 54—
 
 
(a)
the words from “in the heading” to the end of the paragraph become
25
 
paragraph (a);
 
 
(b)
after paragraph (a) insert—
 
 
“(b)
in subsection (3A)—
 
 
(i)
in paragraph (a) omit “aged 21 or over” in both
 
 
places;
30
 
(ii)
in paragraph (b) omit the words from “or under”
 
 
to “adults aged under 21)”.”
 
 
(6)
The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended in accordance with subsections (7)
 
 
and (8) .
 
 
(7)
In section 200(2)(a) (modifications to provisions in the Sentencing Code about
35
 
suspended sentence orders), for “200A” substitute “200ZA”.
 
 
(8)
After section 200 insert—
 
“200ZA
Modifications of sections 264 and 277 of the Sentencing Code
 
 
(1)
Section 264 of the Sentencing Code (suspended sentence order for
 
 
offender under 21: availability) has effect in relation to a suspended
40

Page 9

 
sentence order made by a relevant service court as if in subsection
 
 
(3A)—
 
 
(a)
the reference to a sentence under section 265 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to a sentence to which subsections (2) and (3) of
 
 
that section apply by virtue of section 224A of this Act (special
5
 
custodial sentence for certain offenders of particular concern);
 
 
(b)
the reference to section 266 of the Sentencing Code were to a
 
 
sentence under that section by virtue of section 219A of this
 
 
Act (extended sentence for certain violent, sexual or terrorism
 
 
offenders aged 18 or over);
10
 
(c)
the reference to a sentence under section 278 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to a sentence to which subsections (2) and (3) of
 
 
that section apply by virtue of section 224A of this Act;
 
 
(d)
the reference to a sentence under section 279 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to a sentence under that section by virtue of section
15
 
219A of this Act.
 
 
(2)
Section 277 of the Sentencing Code (suspended sentence order for
 
 
person aged 21 or over: availability) has effect in relation to a
 
 
suspended sentence order made by a relevant service court as if in
 
 
subsection (3A)—
20
 
(a)
the reference to a sentence under section 278 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to a sentence to which subsections (2) and (3) of
 
 
that section apply by virtue of section 224A of this Act;
 
 
(b)
the reference to a sentence under section 279 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to a sentence under that section by virtue of section
25
 
219A of this Act;
 
 
(c)
the reference to a sentence under section 265 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to a sentence to which subsections (2) and (3) of
 
 
that section apply by virtue of section 224A of this Act;
 
 
(d)
the reference to section 266 of the Sentencing Code were to a
30
 
sentence under that section by virtue of section 219A of this
 
 
Act.”
 

Income reduction orders

 
3
Income reduction orders
 
 
(1)
In the Sentencing Code, in Part 7 (financial orders and orders relating to
35
 
property), after Chapter 4 insert—
 

Chapter 5

 
 
Income reduction orders
 
161A
Income reduction order
 
 
(1)
In this Code “income reduction order” means an order under this
40
 
Chapter that—
 

Page 10

 
(a)
is made in respect of an offender for an offence, and
 
 
(b)
requires the offender, for the period in respect of which the
 
 
order has effect, to pay such percentage of the offender’s excess
 
 
monthly income as is determined by the court.
 
 
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1) (b) , “the offender’s excess monthly
5
 
income” means such of the offender’s monthly income as exceeds an
 
 
amount specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
 
 
(3)
For the purposes of subsection (2) , “monthly income” means monthly
 
 
income after deduction of such amounts as may be specified in the
 
 
regulations.
10
 
(4)
The regulations may make further provision about how the court is
 
 
to determine the offender’s monthly income.
 
 
(5)
The amount specified under subsection (2) must not be less than an
 
 
amount equal to 170 times the hourly amount of the national minimum
 
 
wage.
15
 
(6)
For further provision about determining the percentage of the
 
 
offender’s excess monthly income payable under an income reduction
 
 
order, see section 161B .
 
 
(7)
In this section “national minimum wage” means such single hourly
 
 
rate as is for the time being specified in regulations under section 1 (3)
20
 
of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 .
 
161B
Determining the amount payable under an income reduction order
 
 
(1)
The Secretary of State must by regulations make provision about how
 
 
the court is to determine the percentage of the offender’s excess
 
 
monthly income payable under an income reduction order.
25
 
(2)
Provision made by regulations under subsection (1) must secure that
 
 
the percentage determined by the court does not exceed a specified
 
 
percentage.
 
 
(3)
The percentage specified by virtue of subsection (2) must not exceed
 
 
twenty per cent.
30
 
(4)
Provision made by virtue of subsection (1) may include provision for
 
 
the percentage to depend on (among other things)—
 
 
(a)
the offence or offences committed;
 
 
(b)
how the offender is otherwise dealt with (including, where the
 
 
offender is fined, the amount of the fine);
35
 
(c)
the age of the offender.
 
 
(5)
In this section, “specified” means specified in the regulations.
 

Page 11

161C
Further provision about income reduction orders
 
 
(1)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make such further provision
 
 
about income reduction orders as the Secretary of State considers
 
 
appropriate.
 
 
(2)
Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision about payments
5
 
under an income reduction order including (among other things)—
 
 
(a)
provision about the form and manner in which payments must
 
 
or may be made;
 
 
(b)
provision for payments to be made to a specified person, or a
 
 
person of a specified description;
10
 
(c)
provision about the date by which, or period within which,
 
 
payments must be made;
 
 
(d)
provision about interest on any unpaid amounts payable under
 
 
an income reduction order.
 
 
(3)
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
15
 
(a)
make provision for monitoring compliance with income
 
 
reduction orders;
 
 
(b)
make provision for the enforcement of income reduction orders,
 
 
including provision about the recovery of any unpaid amounts
 
 
under an income reduction order;
20
 
(c)
make provision about appeals.
 
 
(4)
The provision that may be made by virtue of subsection (3) (a) and (b)
 
 
includes—
 
 
(a)
provision for a specified person, or a person of a specified
 
 
description, to require the provision of documents or
25
 
information;
 
 
(b)
provision for a specified person, or a person of a specified
 
 
description, to require the offender to attend at a place and
 
 
answer questions.
 
 
(5)
In this section, “specified” means specified in the regulations.
30
161D
Income reduction order: availability
 
 
(1)
An income reduction order is available to a court by or before which
 
 
an offender is convicted of an offence where—
 
 
(a)
the offence is committed on or after the date on which section
 
 
3 of the Sentencing Act 2025 comes fully into force,
35
 
(b)
the offender is aged at least 18 when convicted of the offence,
 
 
(c)
the court imposes a suspended sentence order in relation to—
 
 
(i)
the offence, or
 
 
(ii)
a combination of the offence and one or more offences
 
 
associated with it, and
40
 
(d)
when the sentence is imposed—
 

Page 12

 
(i)
the offender’s monthly income exceeds such amount as
 
 
is specified in regulations under section 161A (2) , or
 
 
(ii)
it appears to the court that the offender’s monthly
 
 
income will exceed that amount during the operational
 
 
period of the suspended sentence order.
5
 
(2)
The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision about
 
 
circumstances in which a court may not make an income reduction
 
 
order.
 
 
(3)
Where an income reduction order is available, the court may make
 
 
such an order whether or not it also deals with the offender for the
10
 
offence in any other way.
 
161E
Making an income reduction order
 
 
(1)
An income reduction order must specify—
 
 
(a)
the percentage of the offender’s excess monthly income payable
 
 
under the order,
15
 
(b)
the period for which the order has effect,
 
 
(c)
the date or dates by which payments under the order must be
 
 
made, and
 
 
(d)
the person to whom payments under the order must be made.
 
 
(2)
The period for which the order has effect may not exceed the
20
 
operational period of the suspended sentence order mentioned in
 
 
section 161D (1) (c) .
 
 
(3)
In determining—
 
 
(a)
whether to make an income reduction order against an offender,
 
 
or
25
 
(b)
the percentage of the offender’s excess monthly income payable
 
 
under the order,
 
 
the court must have regard to the offender’s means, so far as they
 
 
appear or are known to the court.
 
 
(4)
Where the court considers—
30
 
(a)
that it would be appropriate to impose both an income
 
 
reduction order and one or more of—
 
 
(i)
a compensation order,
 
 
(ii)
an unlawful profit order, or
 
 
(iii)
a slavery and trafficking reparation order, but
35
 
(b)
that the offender has insufficient means to pay both the income
 
 
reduction order and appropriate amounts under such of those
 
 
orders as it would be appropriate to make,
 
 
the court must give preference to such of the orders in paragraph (a) (i)
 
 
to (iii) as it would be appropriate to make (though it may impose an
40
 
income reduction order as well).
 

Page 13

 
(5)
For the effect of proceedings in relation to confiscation orders on the
 
 
court’s powers in relation to income reduction orders, see the following
 
 
provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 —
 
 
(a)
section 13 (where confiscation order has been made);
 
 
(b)
section 15 (where proceedings on a confiscation order have
5
 
been postponed).
 
 
(6)
In this section—
 
 
“the operational period” has the meaning given by section 288(2);
 
 
“slavery and trafficking reparation order” means an order under
 
 
section 8 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ;
10
 
“unlawful profit order” means an unlawful profit order under
 
 
section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 .
 
161F
Variation or discharge of income reduction order
 
 
(1)
An income reduction order may be varied or discharged by the court
 
 
that made it if, on an application by a person within subsection (2)
15
 
, it appears to the court, having regard to any change in the
 
 
circumstances since the order was made, to be appropriate to do so.
 
 
(2)
The persons are—
 
 
(a)
the offender;
 
 
(b)
an officer of a provider of probation services.
20
 
(3)
The power to vary an order includes power to decrease the percentage
 
 
of the offender’s excess monthly income payable under the order.
 
 
(4)
But the court may not exercise the power in subsection (1) so as to
 
 
increase the percentage payable under the order.
 
161G
Income reduction orders: supplementary
25
 
(1)
In this Chapter—
 
 
“income” means income chargeable to income tax within the
 
 
meaning of the Income Tax Acts;
 
 
“monthly income” has the meaning given by section 161A (3) ;
 
 
“the offender’s excess monthly income” has the meaning given
30
 
by section 161A (2) ;
 
 
“primary legislation” means—
 
 
(a)
an Act of Parliament,
 
 
(b)
an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
 
 
(c)
a Measure or Act of Senedd Cymru, or
35
 
(d)
Northern Ireland legislation;
 
 
(2)
The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the definition of
 
 
“income” in subsection (1) .
 
 
(3)
Regulations under this Chapter may amend primary legislation.
 

Page 14

 
(4)
Regulations under this Chapter are subject to the affirmative resolution
 
 
procedure.”
 
 
(2)
In Schedule 9 to the Administration of Justice Act 1970 (enforcement of orders
 
 
for costs, compensation etc.), after paragraph 10 insert—
 
 
“10A
Where under Chapter 5 of Part 7 of the Sentencing Code a court
5
 
makes an income reduction order.”
 

Purposes of sentencing

 
4
Purposes of sentencing
 
 
(1)
In section 57(2)(d) of the Sentencing Code (purposes of sentencing: protection
 
 
of the public), after “public” insert “(including victims of crime)”.
10
 
(2)
In section 237(1)(e) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (purposes of sentencing:
 
 
protection of the public), after “public” insert “(including victims of crime)”.
 

Deferment of sentence

 
5
Date to which passing of sentence may be deferred
 
 
(1)
Section 5 of the Sentencing Code (making a deferment order) is amended as
15
 
follows.
 
 
(2)
In subsection (2), for the words from “more than” to the end of the subsection
 
 
substitute “—
 
 
“(a)
more than 6 months after the date on which the order is made,
 
 
if the offender was convicted of the offence, or any of the
20
 
offences, before the relevant date, or
 
 
(b)
more than 12 months after the date on which the order is made,
 
 
if the offender was convicted of the offence, or all of the
 
 
offences, on or after the relevant date.”
 
 
(3)
After that subsection insert—
25
 
“(2A)
In subsection (2) “the relevant date” means the date on which section
 
 
5 of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 

Page 15

Finding of domestic abuse

 
6
Finding of domestic abuse
 
 
(1)
In Part 3 of the Sentencing Code (sentencing procedure), after Chapter 5
 
 
insert—
 

Chapter 6

5
 
Finding of domestic abuse
 
56A
Finding of domestic abuse
 
 
(1)
This section applies if—
 
 
(a)
a court is passing sentence for an offence, and
 
 
(b)
the court is of the view that the offence involved domestic
10
 
abuse carried out by the offender.
 
 
(2)
The court must, in open court, state that in its view the offence
 
 
involved domestic abuse carried out by the offender.
 
 
(3)
This section is without prejudice to any duty imposed on the court
 
 
by section 59 or 60 to follow sentencing guidelines in dealing with the
15
 
offender for the offence.
 
 
(4)
In this section “domestic abuse” has the same meaning as in the
 
 
Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (see sections 1 and 2 of that Act).”
 
 
(2)
In the Armed Forces Act 2006, after section 253 insert—
 
 
“Finding of domestic abuse
20
253A
Finding of domestic abuse
 
 
(1)
This section applies if—
 
 
(a)
a court or officer is passing sentence for a service offence, and
 
 
(b)
the court or officer is of the view that the offence involved
 
 
domestic abuse carried out by the offender.
25
 
(2)
The court or officer must, in open court, state that in the court’s or
 
 
officer’s view the offence involved domestic abuse carried out by the
 
 
offender.
 
 
(3)
In its application to a court, this section is without prejudice to any
 
 
duty imposed on the court by section 259 to have regard to guidelines
30
 
in dealing with the offender for the offence.
 
 
(4)
In this section—
 
 
“domestic abuse” has the same meaning as in the Domestic Abuse
 
 
Act 2021 (see sections 1 and 2 of that Act);
 
 
“sentence” includes any order made when dealing with the
35
 
offender in respect of an offence.”
 

Page 16

Offenders of particular concern

 
 
7
Special custodial sentence for certain offenders of particular concern: England
 

and Wales

 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (6) .
 
 
(2)
In the italic heading before section 252A, for “terrorist” substitute “certain”.
5
 
(3)
In section 252A (required special sentence of detention for terrorist offenders
 
 
of particular concern)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, for “terrorist” substitute “certain”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (1) insert—
 
 
“(1A)
Subsections (3) to (5) also apply where—
10
 
(a)
a person aged under 18 is convicted of an offence listed
 
 
in Part 3 of Schedule 13 (offences involving or connected
 
 
with a threat to national security),
 
 
(b)
the offence was committed on or after the day on which
 
 
section 7 (3) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force,
15
 
(c)
the court does not impose—
 
 
(i)
a sentence of detention for life under section 250
 
 
for the offence or for an offence associated with
 
 
it, or
 
 
(ii)
an extended sentence of detention under section
20
 
254 for an offence associated with the offence,
 
 
and
 
 
(d)
the court would, apart from this section, impose a
 
 
custodial sentence (see, in particular, section 230(2)).”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (2), after “subsection (1)(d)” insert “or (1A) (d) ”;
25
 
(d)
in subsection (6), after “subsection (1)” insert “or (1A) ”.
 
 
(4)
In section 265 (required special sentence for certain offenders of particular
 
 
concern)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1), after paragraph (a) insert—
 
 
“(aa)
if the offence is listed in Part 3 of that Schedule (offences
30
 
involving or connected with a threat to national
 
 
security), the offender was convicted of the offence on
 
 
or after the day on which section 7 (4) of the Sentencing
 
 
Act 2025 came into force,”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (1A)(b)—
35
 
(i)
in sub-paragraph (i), at the beginning insert “if listed in Part
 
 
1 of Schedule 13 (offences involving or connected with
 
 
terrorism),”;
 
 
(ii)
after sub-paragraph (i), but before the “or” at the end of it,
 
 
insert—
40
 
“(ia)
if listed in Part 3 of Schedule 13, was
 
 
committed before the day on which
 

Page 17

 
section 7 (4) of the Sentencing Act 2025
 
 
came into force,”.
 
 
(5)
In section 278 (required special sentence for certain offenders of particular
 
 
concern)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1), after paragraph (a) insert—
5
 
“(aa)
if the offence is listed in Part 3 of that Schedule (offences
 
 
involving or connected with a threat to national
 
 
security), the offender was convicted of the offence on
 
 
or after the day on which section 7 (5) of the Sentencing
 
 
Act 2025 came into force,”;
10
 
(b)
in subsection (1A)(b)—
 
 
(i)
in sub-paragraph (i), at the beginning insert “if listed in Part
 
 
1 of Schedule 13 (offences involving or connected with
 
 
terrorism),”;
 
 
(ii)
after sub-paragraph (i), but before the “or” at the end of it,
15
 
insert—
 
 
“(ia)
if listed in Part 3 of Schedule 13, was
 
 
committed before the day on which
 
 
section 7 (5) of the Sentencing Act 2025
 
 
came into force,”.
20
 
(6)
In Schedule 13 (special sentence for offenders of particular concern: offences),
 
 
after Part 2 insert—
 

Part 3

 
 
Offences involving or connected with a threat to national security
 
 
Official Secrets Act 1911
25
 
13
An offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (spying).
 
 
Official Secrets Act 1920
 
 
14
An offence under section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1920
 
 
(attempting or inciting etc an offence under the Official Secrets Acts
 
 
1911 and 1920) where the offence which the person attempts to
30
 
commit, solicits or incites or endeavours to persuade another person
 
 
to commit, or aids or abets and does any act preparatory to the
 
 
commission of, is an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets
 
 
Act 1911.
 
 
National Security Act 2023
35
 
15
An offence under any of the following provisions of the National
 
 
Security Act 2023—
 
 
(a)
section 1 (obtaining or disclosing protected information);
 
 
(b)
section 2 (obtaining or disclosing trade secrets);
 
 
(c)
section 3 (assisting a foreign intelligence service);
40

Page 18

 
(d)
section 4 (entering etc a prohibited place for a purpose
 
 
prejudicial to the UK);
 
 
(e)
section 12 (sabotage);
 
 
(f)
section 13 (foreign interference);
 
 
(g)
section 17 (obtaining etc material benefits from a foreign
5
 
intelligence source);
 
 
(h)
section 18 (preparatory conduct);
 
 
(i)
section 56 (offences relating to Part 2 notices);
 
 
(j)
section 65 (requirement to register foreign activity
 
 
arrangements);
10
 
(k)
section 67 (carrying out etc relevant activities pursuant to
 
 
unregistered foreign activity arrangement);
 
 
(l)
section 68 (failure to register relevant activities of specified
 
 
persons);
 
 
(m)
section 74(8) committed in relation to a foreign activity
15
 
arrangement registered under section 65 or a relevant activity
 
 
registered under section 68 (failure to comply with
 
 
registration information requirements);
 
 
(n)
section 75(8) committed in relation to an information notice
 
 
given under section 75(1) (failure to comply with information
20
 
notice);
 
 
(o)
section 77(1) or (2) (provision of false information);
 
 
(p)
section 78(1) (carrying out activities under foreign activity
 
 
arrangement tainted by false information).
 
 
Certain electoral offences where foreign power condition met
25
 
16
An offence—
 
 
(a)
to which subsection (1)(a) of section 16 of the National
 
 
Security Act 2023 applies (relevant electoral offences
 
 
committed on or after specified day), and
 
 
(b)
in relation to which it is determined for the purposes of
30
 
subsection (1)(b) of that section that the foreign power
 
 
condition is met,
 
 
other than an offence under section 89A(4) or (5) of the Political
 
 
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
 
 
Inchoate offences
35
 
17
An inchoate offence in relation to an offence specified in any of the
 
 
preceding paragraphs of this Part of this Schedule.
 
 
Certain other offences where foreign power condition met
 
 
18
An offence, other than one for which the sentence is fixed by law
 
 
as life imprisonment—
40
 
(a)
which is punishable on indictment with imprisonment for
 
 
more than 2 years, and
 

Page 19

 
(b)
where it is determined under section 69A that the foreign
 
 
power condition is met in relation to the conduct that
 
 
constitutes the offence.”
 
 
(7)
In section 51A(3)(ba) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (sending cases to
 
 
the Crown Court: children and young persons), after “252A(1)(a)” insert “or
5
 
(1A) (a) ”.
 
 
(8)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows—
 
 
(a)
in section 244A (release on licence of prisoners serving sentence under
 
 
section 278 of the Sentencing Code etc)—
 
 
(i)
in subsection (1), after “or under section” insert “252A,”;
10
 
(ii)
in subsection (6), in the definition of “the appropriate custodial
 
 
term” after “or under section” insert “252A,”;
 
 
(b)
in section 256AA(1)(ba) (requirement for supervision after end of
 
 
sentence) after “section” insert “252A,”;
 
 
(c)
in section 264(6) (consecutive terms: minimum custodial period), after
15
 
paragraph (ca), insert—
 
 
“(caa)
in relation to a sentence imposed under section 252A
 
 
of the Sentencing Code, two-thirds of the appropriate
 
 
custodial term determined by the court under that
 
 
section,”;
20
 
(d)
in section 268(1A)(c) (meaning of “requisite custodial period” in
 
 
Chapter 6 of Part 12), after “or under section” insert “252A,”.
 
 
(9)
In consequence of the amendments made by subsections (3) and (6) , the
 
 
Sentencing Act 2020 is amended as follows—
 
 
(a)
in section 16A (committal for sentence of young offenders on summary
25
 
trial of certain terrorist offences)—
 
 
(i)
in the heading, omit “terrorist”;
 
 
(ii)
in subsection (1)(a), for “(terrorism offences” substitute “or
 
 
(1A) (a) (offences”;
 
 
(b)
in section 19 (committal for sentence on indication of guilty plea by
30
 
child with related offences)—
 
 
(i)
in subsection (1)(b), for “(terrorism offences” substitute “or
 
 
(1A) (a) (offences”;
 
 
(ii)
in subsection (2)(a), after “252A(1)(a)” insert “or (1A) (a) ”;
 
 
(c)
in section 22(1)(aa) (powers of Crown Court where offender aged
35
 
under 18 committed for sentence), omit “terrorist”;
 
 
(d)
in section 166(5) (periods of extension of driving disqualification order
 
 
where custodial sentence imposed), in entry 1A in the table, for
 
 
“terrorist” substitute “certain”;
 
 
(e)
in section 221(2)(ba) (kinds of custodial sentence dealt with by Chapter
40
 
2 of Part 10) for “terrorist” substitute “certain”;
 
 
(f)
in section 398(4)(b), at the beginning insert “Part 1 or 2 of”;
 
 
(g)
in paragraph 51A of Schedule 22 (amendments of the Sentencing
 
 
Code), for “terrorist” substitute “certain”;
 

Page 20

 
(h)
in paragraph 15(2) of Schedule 27 (transitional provision)—
 
 
(i)
in paragraph (za), after “section 252A(1)(c)(i)” insert “and
 
 
(1A) (c) (i) ”;
 
 
(ii)
in paragraph (zb), after “section 252A(1)(c)(ii)” insert “and
 
 
(1A) (c) (ii) ”.
5
 
(10)
If section 31 (repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence)
 
 
comes into force before or at the same time as the coming into force of
 
 
subsection (8) , that subsection is to be read as if paragraph (b) were omitted.
 
8
Sentence with fixed licence period: Scotland
 
 
(1)
Section 205ZC of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (terrorism
10
 
sentence with fixed licence period) is amended in accordance with subsections
 
 
(2) to (5) .
 
 
(2)
In the heading, omit “Terrorism”.
 
 
(3)
After subsection (1) insert—
 
 
“(1A)
This section also applies where—
15
 
(a)
a person is convicted on indictment of an offence specified in
 
 
Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB on or after the day on which section 8
 
 
of the Sentencing Act 2025 comes into force, and
 
 
(b)
the court does not impose one of the following for the offence
 
 
or for an offence associated with it—
20
 
(i)
a sentence of imprisonment for life,
 
 
(ii)
a sentence of detention for life,
 
 
(iii)
an order for lifelong restriction under section 210F,
 
 
(iv)
a serious terrorism sentence of imprisonment under
 
 
section 205ZA(2),
25
 
(v)
a serious terrorism sentence of detention under section
 
 
205ZA(6), or
 
 
(vi)
an extended sentence under section 210A.
 
 
(1B)
For the purposes of subsection (1A) , an offence is associated with
 
 
another if—
30
 
(a)
the offender—
 
 
(i)
is convicted of it in the proceedings in which the
 
 
offender is convicted of the other offence, or
 
 
(ii)
(although convicted of it in earlier proceedings) is
 
 
sentenced for it at the same time as being sentenced for
35
 
that offence, or
 
 
(b)
in the proceedings in which the offender is sentenced for the
 
 
other offence, the offender—
 
 
(i)
admits having committed it, and
 
 
(ii)
asks the court to take it into consideration in sentencing
40
 
for that other offence.”
 

Page 21

 
(4)
In subsection (2), in paragraph (b), for the words from “before the day” to
 
 
the end of the paragraph substitute “—
 
 
“(i)
if the offence is a terrorism offence, before the day on
 
 
which section 23 of the Counter-Terrorism and
 
 
Sentencing Act 2021 came into force;
5
 
(ii)
if the offence is an offence specified in Part 2 of
 
 
Schedule 5ZB, before the day on which section 8 of the
 
 
Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 
 
(5)
In subsection (8)(a), after “specified in” insert “Part 1 of”.
 
 
(6)
Schedule 5ZB to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (terrorism
10
 
offences) is amended in accordance with subsections (7) to (11) .
 
 
(7)
For the Schedule heading substitute “Offences specified for the purpose of
 
 
section 205ZC (sentence with fixed licence period)”.
 
 
(8)
After the Schedule heading (and so that the existing text in the Schedule
 
 
becomes Part 1 of the Schedule) insert—
15

Part 1

 
 
Terrorism Offences
 
 
(9)
In paragraph 7(1) (ancillary offences), after “Part” insert “of this Schedule”.
 
 
(10)
In paragraph 8 (abolished offences)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph (a), after “this” insert “Part of this”;
20
 
(b)
in paragraph (b), after “this”, in the first place it occurs, insert “Part
 
 
of this”.
 
 
(11)
At the end of the Schedule insert—
 

Part 2

 
 
Offences involving or connected with a threat to national security
25
 
Official Secrets Act 1911
 
 
9
An offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (spying).
 
 
Official Secrets Act 1920
 
 
10
An offence under section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1920
 
 
(attempting or inciting etc an offence under the Official Secrets Acts
30
 
1911 and 1920) where the offence which the person attempts to
 
 
commit, solicits or incites or endeavours to persuade another person
 
 
to commit, or aids or abets and does any act preparatory to the
 
 
commission of, is an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets
 
 
Act 1911.
35

Page 22

 
National Security Act 2023
 
 
11
An offence under any of the following provisions of the National
 
 
Security Act 2023—
 
 
(a)
section 1 (obtaining or disclosing protected information);
 
 
(b)
section 2 (obtaining or disclosing trade secrets);
5
 
(c)
section 3 (assisting a foreign intelligence service);
 
 
(d)
section 4 (entering etc a prohibited place for a purpose
 
 
prejudicial to the UK);
 
 
(e)
section 12 (sabotage);
 
 
(f)
section 13 (foreign interference);
10
 
(g)
section 17 (obtaining etc material benefits from a foreign
 
 
intelligence source);
 
 
(h)
section 18 (preparatory conduct);
 
 
(i)
section 56 (offences relating to Part 2 notices);
 
 
(j)
section 65 (requirement to register foreign activity
15
 
arrangements);
 
 
(k)
section 67 (carrying out etc relevant activities pursuant to
 
 
unregistered foreign activity arrangement);
 
 
(l)
section 68 (failure to register relevant activities of specified
 
 
persons);
20
 
(m)
section 74(8) committed in relation to a foreign activity
 
 
arrangement registered under section 65 or a relevant activity
 
 
registered under section 68 (failure to comply with
 
 
registration information requirements);
 
 
(n)
section 75(8) committed in relation to an information notice
25
 
given under section 75(1) (failure to comply with information
 
 
notice);
 
 
(o)
section 77(1) or (2) (provision of false information);
 
 
(p)
section 78(1) (carrying out activities under foreign activity
 
 
arrangement tainted by false information).
30
 
Certain electoral offences where foreign power condition met
 
 
12
An offence—
 
 
(a)
to which subsection (1)(a) of section 16 of the National
 
 
Security Act 2023 applies (relevant electoral offences
 
 
committed on or after specified day), and
35
 
(b)
in relation to which it is determined for the purposes of
 
 
subsection (1)(b) of that section that the foreign power
 
 
condition is met,
 
 
other than an offence under section 89A(4) or (5) of the Political
 
 
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
40

Page 23

 
Ancillary offences
 
 
13
(1)
An attempt to commit an offence specified in the preceding
 
 
paragraphs of this Part of this Schedule (“a listed offence”).
 
 
(2)
Conspiracy to commit a listed offence.
 
 
(3)
Incitement to commit a listed offence.
5
 
(4)
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of a listed
 
 
offence.
 
 
Certain other offences where foreign power condition met
 
 
14
An offence, other than one for which the sentence is fixed by law
 
 
as life imprisonment—
10
 
(a)
which is punishable on indictment with imprisonment for
 
 
more than 2 years, and
 
 
(b)
in relation to which section 21 of the National Security Act
 
 
2023 applies (aggravating factor where foreign power
 
 
condition met: Scotland).”
15
 
(12)
Part 1 of Schedule 2 makes consequential provision.
 
9
Sentence with fixed licence period: Northern Ireland
 
 
(1)
Article 15A of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I.
 
 
2008/1216 (N.I. 1)) (terrorism sentence with fixed licence period) is amended
 
 
in accordance with subsections (2) to (4) .
20
 
(2)
In the heading, omit “Terrorism”.
 
 
(3)
In paragraph (2), in the words before paragraph (a), after “apply” insert “by
 
 
virtue of paragraph (1)”.
 
 
(4)
After paragraph (2) insert—
 
 
“(2A)
This Article also applies where—
25
 
(a)
a person is convicted after the commencement of section 9 of
 
 
the Sentencing Act 2025 of an offence specified in Schedule 2B
 
 
(offences involving or connected with a threat to national
 
 
security specified for the purposes of Article 15A),
 
 
(b)
the court does not impose, in respect of the offence or any
30
 
offence associated with it, a life sentence, an indeterminate
 
 
custodial sentence, a serious terrorism sentence or an extended
 
 
custodial sentence, and
 
 
(c)
the court decides to impose a custodial sentence.
 
 
(2B)
But this Article does not apply by virtue of paragraph (2A) where—
35
 
(a)
the offender is under the age of 21 when convicted of the
 
 
offence, and
 
 
(b)
the offence was committed before the commencement of section
 
 
9 of the Sentencing Act 2025.”
 

Page 24

 
(5)
In the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, after Schedule 2A
 
 
insert—
 
 
“Schedule 2B
Article 15A (2A)
 
 
Offences involving or connected with a threat to national security
 
 
specified for the purposes of Article 15A
5
 
Official Secrets Act 1911
 
 
1
An offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (spying).
 
 
Official Secrets Act 1920
 
 
2
An offence under section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1920
 
 
(attempting or inciting etc an offence under the Official Secrets Acts
10
 
1911 and 1920) where the offence which the person attempts to
 
 
commit, solicits or incites or endeavours to persuade another person
 
 
to commit, or aids or abets and does any act preparatory to the
 
 
commission of, is an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets
 
 
Act 1911.
15
 
National Security Act 2023
 
 
3
An offence under any of the following provisions of the National
 
 
Security Act 2023—
 
 
(a)
section 1 (obtaining or disclosing protected information);
 
 
(b)
section 2 (obtaining or disclosing trade secrets);
20
 
(c)
section 3 (assisting a foreign intelligence service);
 
 
(d)
section 4 (entering etc a prohibited place for a purpose
 
 
prejudicial to the UK);
 
 
(e)
section 12 (sabotage);
 
 
(f)
section 13 (foreign interference);
25
 
(g)
section 17 (obtaining etc material benefits from a foreign
 
 
intelligence source);
 
 
(h)
section 18 (preparatory conduct);
 
 
(i)
section 56 (offences relating to Part 2 notices);
 
 
(j)
section 65 (requirement to register foreign activity
30
 
arrangements);
 
 
(k)
section 67 (carrying out etc relevant activities pursuant to
 
 
unregistered foreign activity arrangement);
 
 
(l)
section 68 (failure to register relevant activities of specified
 
 
persons);
35
 
(m)
section 74(8) committed in relation to a foreign activity
 
 
arrangement registered under section 65 or a relevant activity
 
 
registered under section 68 (failure to comply with
 
 
registration information requirements);
 

Page 25

 
(n)
section 75(8) committed in relation to an information notice
 
 
given under section 75(1) (failure to comply with information
 
 
notice);
 
 
(o)
section 77(1) or (2) (provision of false information);
 
 
(p)
section 78(1) (carrying out activities under foreign activity
5
 
arrangement tainted by false information).
 
 
Certain electoral offences where foreign power condition met
 
 
4
An offence—
 
 
(a)
to which subsection (1)(a) of section 16 of the National
 
 
Security Act 2023 applies (relevant electoral offences
10
 
committed on or after specified day), and
 
 
(b)
in relation to which it is determined for the purposes of
 
 
subsection (1)(b) of that section that the foreign power
 
 
condition is met,
 
 
other than an offence under section 89A(4) or (5) of the Political
15
 
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
 
 
Ancillary offences
 
 
5
(1)
In the preceding paragraphs of this Schedule any reference to an
 
 
offence includes an ancillary offence in relation to that offence
 
 
(unless the reference is specifically to an ancillary offence).
20
 
(2)
“Ancillary offence”, in relation to an offence, means any of the
 
 
following—
 
 
(a)
aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission
 
 
of the offence;
 
 
(b)
an offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007
25
 
(encouraging or assisting crime) in relation to the offence;
 
 
(c)
attempting or conspiring to commit the offence.
 
 
(3)
In sub-paragraph (2) (b) the reference to an offence under Part 2 of
 
 
the Serious Crime Act 2007 includes, in relation to times before the
 
 
commencement of that Part, an offence of incitement.
30
 
Certain other offences where foreign power condition met
 
 
6
An offence, other than one for which the sentence is fixed by law
 
 
as life imprisonment—
 
 
(a)
which is punishable on indictment with imprisonment for
 
 
more than 2 years, and
35
 
(b)
in relation to which section 20 of the National Security Act
 
 
2023 applies (aggravating factor where foreign power
 
 
condition met: Northern Ireland).”
 
 
(6)
Part 2 of Schedule 2 makes consequential provision.
 

Page 26

10
Corresponding provision under service law
 
 
Schedule 3 makes provision about sentencing under service law that
 
 
corresponds to provision made by section 7 .
 

Rehabilitation activity requirement

 
11
Removal of requirement to specify maximum number of days
5
 
In paragraph 4 of Schedule 9 to the Sentencing Code (meaning of rehabilitation
 
 
activity requirement), omit sub-paragraph (2).
 
12
Rehabilitation activity requirement renamed probation requirement
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 201 (community order requirements table), for “rehabilitation activity
10
 
requirement” substitute “probation requirement”.
 
 
(3)
In section 287 (suspended sentence order: community requirements table),
 
 
for “rehabilitation activity requirement” substitute “probation requirement”.
 
 
(4)
In section 394 (rules relating to community orders and suspended orders etc),
 
 
in subsection (1)(e)(i), for “rehabilitation activity requirements” substitute
15
 
“probation requirements”.
 
 
(5)
In Schedule 9 (community orders and suspended sentence orders:
 
 
requirements)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading to Part 2, for “Rehabilitation activity requirement”
 
 
substitute “Probation requirement”;
20
 
(b)
in paragraph 4(1), for ““rehabilitation activity requirement”” substitute
 
 
““probation requirement””;
 
 
(c)
in paragraph 5(1), for “rehabilitation activity requirement” substitute
 
 
“probation requirement”.
 
 
(6)
In Schedule 11 (transfer of community orders to Scotland or Northern
25
 
Ireland)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 5(2)(b), for “rehabilitation activity requirement” substitute
 
 
“probation requirement”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph 12(2)(b), for “rehabilitation activity requirement” substitute
 
 
“probation requirement”.
30
 
(7)
In Schedule 17 (transfer of suspended sentence orders to Scotland or Northern
 
 
Ireland)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 9(2)(b), for “rehabilitation activity requirement” substitute
 
 
“probation requirement”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph 32(5)(b), for “rehabilitation activity requirement” substitute
35
 
“probation requirement”.
 

Page 27

New community order requirements and community requirements

 
13
Driving prohibition requirement
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (7) .
 
 
(2)
In section 163(2) (availability of driving disqualification), at the end insert
 
 
“(including where the court makes a community order or a suspended sentence
5
 
order which imposes a driving prohibition requirement).”
 
 
(3)
In section 201 (community order requirements table), in the table, after the
 
 
entry relating to the prohibited activity requirement insert—
 
 
“driving prohibition requirement
 
 
Part 4A
 
 
section 207 (A1)”
 
 
(4)
In section 207 (availability of community order requirements)—
10
 
(a)
before the italic heading before subsection (1) insert—
 
 
“Driving prohibition requirement
 
 
(A1)
A driving prohibition requirement is not an available
 
 
requirement if the offence was committed before the day on
 
 
which section 13 (4) (a) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into
15
 
force.”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (4) insert—
 
 
“Day on which offence committed
 
 
(5)
Where an offence is found to have been committed over a
 
 
period of 2 or more days, or at some time during a period of
20
 
2 or more days, it must be taken for the purposes of this section
 
 
to have been committed on the last of those days.”
 
 
(5)
In section 287 (community requirements table), in the table, after the entry
 
 
relating to the prohibited activity requirement insert—
 
 
“driving prohibition requirement
25
 
Part 4A
25
 
section 291 (A1)”
25
 
(6)
In section 291 (availability of community requirements)—
 
 
(a)
before the italic heading before subsection (1) insert—
 
 
“Driving prohibition requirement
 
 
(A1)
A driving prohibition requirement is not an available
 
 
requirement if the offence was committed before the day on
30
 
which section 13 (6) (a) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into
 
 
force.”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (4) insert—
 
 
“Day on which offence committed
 
 
(5)
Where an offence is found to have been committed over a
35
 
period of 2 or more days, or at some time during a period of
 

Page 28

 
2 or more days, it must be taken for the purposes of this section
 
 
to have been committed on the last of those days.”
 
 
(7)
In Schedule 9 (community orders and suspended sentence orders:
 
 
requirements), after Part 4 insert—
 

Part 4A

5
 
Driving prohibition requirement
 
 
8A
(1)
In this Code “driving prohibition requirement”, in relation to a
 
 
relevant order, means a requirement prohibiting the offender from
 
 
driving a motor vehicle on a road or other public place.
 
 
(2)
A driving prohibition requirement may prohibit the offender—
10
 
(a)
from driving at any time in a particular period or at
 
 
particular times in a particular period;
 
 
(b)
from driving any motor vehicle or a motor vehicle of a
 
 
particular kind;
 
 
(c)
from driving on any road or other public place or on a road
15
 
or other public place in a particular area.
 
 
(3)
Where the court makes a relevant order imposing a driving
 
 
prohibition requirement, the following must be specified in the
 
 
order—
 
 
(a)
the period for which the requirement has effect;
20
 
(b)
if the order prohibits the offender from driving at particular
 
 
times, those times;
 
 
(c)
if the order prohibits the offender from driving a motor
 
 
vehicle of a particular kind, that kind of motor vehicle;
 
 
(d)
if the order prohibits the offender from driving on a road
25
 
or other public place in a particular area, that area.
 
 
(4)
A court may impose a driving prohibition requirement whether or
 
 
not the offence to which the order relates involved—
 
 
(a)
the driving of a motor vehicle, or
 
 
(b)
the use of a motor vehicle to commit the offence.
30
 
(5)
In this paragraph—
 
 
“motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic
 
 
Act 1988 except that for this purpose section 189(1) of that
 
 
Act is to be read as if paragraph (c) (certain electrically
 
 
assisted pedal cycles not to be treated as motor vehicles)
35
 
were omitted;
 
 
“road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1988
 
 
(see section 192 of that Act).”
 
 
(8)
In section 177H of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (availability of driving
 
 
disqualification order), at the end insert “(including where the court makes
40
 
a service community order, an overseas community order or a suspended
 
 
sentence order which imposes a driving prohibition requirement).”
 

Page 29

14
Public event attendance prohibition requirement
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 201 (community order requirements table), in the table, after the
 
 
entry relating to the driving prohibition requirement (inserted by section
 
 
13 (3) ), insert—
5
 
section 207 (B1)”
 
 
“public event attendance prohibition
 
 
Part 4B
 
 
requirement
 
 
(3)
In section 207 (availability of community order requirements), after subsection
 
 
(A1) (inserted by section 13 (4) (a) ) insert—
 
 
“Public event attendance prohibition requirement
10
 
(B1)
A public event attendance prohibition requirement is not an available
 
 
requirement if the offence was committed before the day on which
 
 
section 14 (3) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 
 
(4)
In section 287 (community requirements table), in the table, after the entry
 
 
relating to the driving prohibition requirement (inserted by section 13 (5) ),
15
 
insert—
 
 
“public event attendance prohibition
 
 
Part 4B
 
 
section 291 (B1)”
 
 
requirement
 
 
(5)
In section 291 (availability of community requirements), after subsection (A1)
 
 
(inserted by section 13 (6) (a) ) insert—
20
 
“Public event attendance prohibition requirement
 
 
(B1)
A public event attendance prohibition requirement is not an available
 
 
requirement if the offence was committed before the day on which
 
 
section 14 (5) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 
 
(6)
In Schedule 9 (community orders and suspended sentence orders:
25
 
requirements), after Part 4A (inserted by section 13 (7) ) insert—
 

Part 4B

 
 
Public event attendance prohibition requirement
 
 
8B
(1)
In this Code “public event attendance prohibition requirement”, in
 
 
relation to a relevant order, means a requirement prohibiting the
30
 
offender from attending a public event.
 
 
(2)
A public event attendance prohibition requirement may prohibit
 
 
the offender from attending a public event at any time in a particular
 
 
period or at particular times in a particular period.
 
 
(3)
A public event attendance prohibition requirement may prohibit
35
 
the offender from attending—
 

Page 30

 
(a)
a particular public event,
 
 
(b)
a public event of a particular kind, or
 
 
(c)
any public event.
 
 
(4)
Where the court makes a relevant order imposing a public event
 
 
attendance prohibition requirement, the following must be specified
5
 
in the order—
 
 
(a)
the period for which the requirement has effect;
 
 
(b)
if the order prohibits the offender from attending a public
 
 
event at particular times, those times;
 
 
(c)
if the order prohibits the offender from attending a particular
10
 
event, that public event;
 
 
(d)
if the order prohibits the offender from attending a public
 
 
event of a particular kind, that kind of public event.
 
 
(5)
In this paragraph “public event” means any event to which the
 
 
public or a section of the public has access, whether on payment or
15
 
otherwise.”
 
15
Drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 201 (community order requirements table), in the table, after the
 
 
entry relating to the public event attendance prohibition requirement (inserted
20
 
by section 14 (2) ), insert—
 
 
“drinking establishment entry
 
 
Part 4C
 
 
section 207 (C1)”.
 
 
prohibition requirement
 
 
(3)
In section 207 (availability of community order requirements), after subsection
 
 
(B1) (inserted by section 14 (3) ) insert—
25
 
“Drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement
 
 
(C1)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement is not an
 
 
available requirement if the offence was committed before the day on
 
 
which section 15 (3) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 
 
(4)
In section 287 (community requirements table), in the table, after the entry
30
 
relating to the public event attendance prohibition requirement (inserted by
 
 
section 14 (4) ), insert—
 
 
“drinking establishment entry
 
 
Part 4C
 
 
section 291 (C1)”
 
 
prohibition requirement
 
 
(5)
In section 291 (availability of community requirements), after subsection (B1)
35
 
(inserted by section 14 (5) ) insert—
 
 
“Drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement
 
 
(C1)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement is not an
 
 
available requirement if the offence was committed before the day on
 
 
which section 15 (5) of the Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 
 
(6)
In Schedule 9 (community orders and suspended sentence orders:
 
 
requirements), after Part 4B (inserted by section 14 (6) ) insert—
5

Part 4C

 
 
Drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement
 
 
8C
(1)
In this Code “drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement”,
 
 
in relation to a relevant order, means a requirement prohibiting the
 
 
offender from entering a drinking establishment.
10
 
(2)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement may prohibit
 
 
the offender from entering a drinking establishment at any time in
 
 
a particular period or at particular times in a particular period.
 
 
(3)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement may prohibit
 
 
the offender from entering—
15
 
(a)
a particular drinking establishment,
 
 
(b)
a drinking establishment of a particular kind, or
 
 
(c)
any drinking establishment.
 
 
(4)
Where the court makes a relevant order imposing a drinking
 
 
establishment entry prohibition requirement, the following must be
20
 
specified in the order—
 
 
(a)
the period for which the requirement has effect;
 
 
(b)
if the order prohibits the offender from entering a drinking
 
 
establishment at particular times, those times;
 
 
(c)
if the order prohibits the offender from entering a particular
25
 
drinking establishment, that drinking establishment;
 
 
(d)
if the order prohibits the offender from entering a drinking
 
 
establishment of a particular kind, that kind of drinking
 
 
establishment.
 
 
(5)
In this paragraph “drinking establishment” means—
30
 
(a)
any premises or part of premises used principally for the
 
 
sale of alcohol to the public or a section of the public, for
 
 
consumption on the premises or part of premises, where the
 
 
sale is not made subject to a condition that a person reside
 
 
at, or consume food on, the premises, or
35
 
(b)
any premises—
 
 
(i)
that are open to the public or a section of the public
 
 
for the purposes of entertainment,
 
 
(ii)
that are, for those purposes, open for any continuous
 
 
period of time beginning at any time on a day and
40
 
not ending at or before midnight on that day, and
 

Page 32

 
(iii)
on which the sale of alcohol to the public or a section
 
 
of the public for consumption on the premises takes
 
 
place.”
 
16
Restriction zone requirement
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (12) .
5
 
(2)
In section 201 (community order requirements table), in the table, after the
 
 
entry relating to the drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement
 
 
(inserted by section 15 (2) ), insert—
 
 
“restriction zone requirement
 
 
Part 4D
 
 
section 207 (D1)”.
 
 
(3)
In section 207 (availability of community order requirements), after subsection
10
 
(C1) (inserted by section 15 (3) ) insert—
 
 
“Restriction zone requirement
 
 
(D1)
A restriction zone requirement is not an available requirement if the
 
 
offence was committed before the day on which section 16 (3) of the
 
 
Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
15
 
(4)
In section 212(3) (persons to whom partial copy of community order must be
 
 
provided) in the table, before the entry relating to an exclusion requirement
 
 
insert—
 
 
“A restriction zone requirement imposed
 
 
The person intended to
 
 
be protected”
20
 
for the purpose (or partly for the purpose) of
20
 
protecting a person from being approached by
 
 
the offender
 
 
(5)
In section 287 (community requirements table), in the table, after the entry
 
 
relating to the drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement (inserted
 
 
by section 15 (4) ), insert—
25
 
“restriction zone requirement
 
 
Part 4D
 
 
section 291 (D1)”
 
 
(6)
In section 291 (availability of community requirements), after subsection (C1)
 
 
(inserted by section 15 (5) ) insert—
 
 
“Restriction zone requirement
 
 
(D1)
A restriction zone requirement is not an available requirement if the
30
 
offence was committed before the day on which section 16 (6) of the
 
 
Sentencing Act 2025 came into force.”
 

Page 33

 
(7)
In section 298(3) (persons to whom partial copy of suspended sentence order
 
 
must be provided) in the table, before the entry relating to an exclusion
 
 
requirement insert—
 
 
“A restriction zone requirement imposed for the
 
 
The person intended to
 
 
purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting
5
 
be protected”
5
 
a person from being approached by the offender
 
 
(8)
In Schedule 9 (community orders and suspended sentence orders:
 
 
requirements)—
 
 
(a)
after Part 4C (inserted by section 15 (6) ) insert—
 

Part 4D

10
 
Restriction zone requirement
 
 
8D
(1)
In this Code “restriction zone requirement”, in relation to a
 
 
relevant order, means a requirement that the offender must
 
 
remain, for a particular period (“the relevant period”), in
 
 
one or more particular areas.
15
 
(2)
Where the court makes a relevant order imposing a
 
 
restriction zone requirement, the following must be specified
 
 
in the order—
 
 
(a)
the relevant period;
 
 
(b)
the area or areas in which the offender must remain
20
 
for the relevant period.
 
 
(3)
The relevant period must not exceed the period of 2 years
 
 
beginning with the day on which the requirement first takes
 
 
effect.
 
 
(4)
Different areas may be specified for different periods in the
25
 
relevant period.
 
 
(5)
Where the relevant order specifies different areas which do
 
 
not adjoin each other, it may include provision for the
 
 
offender to travel between any of those areas.
 
 
(6)
Where the court makes a relevant order imposing a
30
 
restriction zone requirement, it must also impose an
 
 
electronic compliance monitoring requirement (see paragraph
 
 
29) for securing compliance with it, unless—
 
 
(a)
it is prevented from doing so by—
 
 
(i)
paragraph 33 (consent of person whose
35
 
cooperation is required), or
 
 
(ii)
paragraph 34(1) (arrangements in relevant
 
 
areas), or
 
 
(b)
in the particular circumstances of the case, it considers
 
 
it inappropriate to do so.”;
40

Page 34

 
(b)
in paragraph 34 (restriction on imposing an electronic compliance
 
 
monitoring requirement)—
 
 
(i)
in sub-paragraph (1)(a), for “(2)“ substitute “(1A)”;
 
 
(ii)
after sub-paragraph (1) insert—
 
 
“(1A)
In the case of a relevant order containing a restriction
5
 
zone requirement, each area proposed to be specified
 
 
in the order is a relevant area.”
 
 
(9)
In paragraph 27(4) of Schedule 10 (persons to whom partial copy of amending
 
 
order must be provided) in the table, before the entry relating to an exclusion
 
 
requirement insert—
10
 
“A restriction zone requirement imposed for the
 
 
The person intended to
 
 
purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting
 
 
be protected”
 
 
a person from being approached by the offender
 
 
(10)
In paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 11 (persons to whom partial copy of
 
 
community order or amending order must be provided), in the table, before
15
 
the entry relating to an exclusion requirement insert—
 
 
“A restriction zone requirement imposed for the
 
 
The person intended to
 
 
purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting
 
 
be protected”
 
 
a person from being approached by the offender
 
 
(11)
In paragraph 28(4) of Schedule 16 (persons to whom partial copy of amending
20
 
order must be provided), in the table, before the entry relating to an exclusion
 
 
requirement insert—
 
 
“A restriction zone requirement imposed for the
 
 
The person intended to
 
 
purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting
 
 
be protected”
 
 
a person from being approached by the offender
25
 
(12)
In paragraph 13(5) of Schedule 17 (persons to whom partial copy of
 
 
transferring order must be provided), in the table, before the entry relating
 
 
to an exclusion requirement insert—
 
 
“A restriction zone requirement imposed for the
 
 
The person intended to
 
 
purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting
30
 
be protected”
30
 
a person from being approached by the offender
 
 
(13)
The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended in accordance with subsections (14)
 
 
and (15) .
 
 
(14)
In section 182(3)(c) (application of section 208(2) of, and Schedule 9 to, the
 
 
Sentencing Code to overseas community orders), after sub-paragraph (ix),
35
 
and on a new line, insert “(see also the modification to paragraph 8D of
 
 
Schedule 9 made by section 183(5A) of this Act);”.
 

Page 35

 
(15)
In section 183 (modifications of the Sentencing Code in relation to overseas
 
 
community orders)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1), for “(5)” substitute “(5A)”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (5) insert—
 
 
“(5A)
Paragraph 8D of Schedule 9 (restriction zone requirement) has
5
 
effect as if sub-paragraph (6) were omitted.”
 
17
Power to add or alter requirements
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Act 2020 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 407(1)(b) (regulations and rules), before the “or” before
 
 
sub-paragraph (iii) insert—
10
 
“(iia)
paragraph 13A of Schedule 23 (power to add or alter
 
 
requirements imposed by community orders and
 
 
suspended sentence orders),”.
 
 
(3)
Section 407 extends to Scotland (as well as to England and Wales and Northern
 
 
Ireland).
15
 
(4)
In section 414 (extent)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (3)(c), after “rules)” insert “(but see subsection (7) )”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (6) insert—
 
 
“(7)
See also sections 17 (3) and 45 (2) (a) of the Sentencing Act 2025
 
 
(extent of section 407 and paragraph 13A of Schedule 23).”
20
 
(5)
In Schedule 23 (powers to amend Sentencing Code), after paragraph 13 (but
 
 
in Part 6 of that Schedule) insert—
 
 
“Power to add or alter requirements
 
 
13A
(1)
The Lord Chancellor may by regulations amend Chapter 2 of Part
 
 
9 and Chapter 5 of Part 10 (including Schedule 9) so as to—
25
 
(a)
add a relevant requirement;
 
 
(b)
make provision about a relevant requirement added pursuant
 
 
to paragraph (a) ;
 
 
(c)
alter provision about a relevant requirement that applies for
 
 
the time being.
30
 
(2)
In sub-paragraph (1) “relevant requirement” means a requirement
 
 
that may be imposed by a relevant order.
 
 
(3)
Regulations under this paragraph may make such other provision
 
 
as the Lord Chancellor considers necessary or expedient in
 
 
consequence of, or in connection with, the provision made by virtue
35
 
of sub-paragraph (1) .
 
 
The provision that may be made by virtue of this sub-paragraph
 
 
includes, in particular, provision amending or repealing any
 
 
provision of an Act (whenever passed) including any provision of
 
 
the Sentencing Code.
40

Page 36

 
(4)
Regulations under this paragraph may not have effect in relation
 
 
to any offence committed before the day on which the regulations
 
 
come into force.
 
 
(5)
Regulations under this paragraph may confer a function (including
 
 
the exercise of a discretion) on a person or description of person.
5
 
(6)
Regulations under this paragraph are subject to the affirmative
 
 
resolution procedure.”
 

Sentencing Council for England and Wales

 
18
Sentencing Council business plan
 
 
After section 118 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 insert—
10
“118A
Business plan
 
 
(1)
As soon as practicable after the beginning of each financial year, the
 
 
Council must submit a business plan for the year to the Lord
 
 
Chancellor for approval.
 
 
(2)
The business plan for a financial year must set out—
15
 
(a)
the matters about which the Council proposes to prepare
 
 
sentencing guidelines in the year, and
 
 
(b)
the other activities it proposes to undertake in the year.
 
 
(3)
If the Lord Chancellor approves the business plan for a financial year—
 
 
(a)
the Lord Chancellor must notify the Council, and
20
 
(b)
the Council must publish the plan once it has been so notified.”
 
19
Sentencing guidelines
 
 
(1)
The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 120 (sentencing guidelines)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (7), after “appropriate” insert “—
25
 
“(a)
seek the consent of the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord
 
 
Chancellor to issue them as definitive guidelines, and
 
 
(b)
if such consent is given”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (8), for “such amendments” substitute “any amendments
 
 
of the draft guidelines which it considers appropriate—
30
 
“(a)
seek the consent of the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord
 
 
Chancellor to issue them as definitive guidelines, and
 
 
(b)
if such consent is given”;
 

Page 37

 
(3)
In section 122 (allocation guidelines), in subsection (5), after “appropriate”
 
 
insert “—
 
 
“(a)
seek the consent of the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord
 
 
Chancellor to issue them as definitive guidelines, and
 
 
(b)
if such consent is given”.
5

Part 2

 

Management of offenders after sentencing

 

Release

 
20
Release
 
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended in accordance with subsections (2)
10
 
to (9) .
 
 
(2)
In section 243A (duty to release certain prisoners serving less than 12
 
 
months)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1)(b), for sub-paragraph (i) (but not the “and” at the
 
 
end of that sub-paragraph) substitute—
15
 
“(i)
is serving a sentence under section 250 of the
 
 
Sentencing Code which is for a term of more
 
 
than 1 day but less than 12 months,”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (1A), for paragraph (a) (but not the “and” at the end of
 
 
that sub-paragraph) substitute—
20
 
“(a)
the prisoner is serving a sentence under section 250 of
 
 
the Sentencing Code which is for a term of more than
 
 
1 day but less than 12 months,”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (3), for paragraph (a) (but not the “and” at the end of
 
 
that paragraph) substitute—
25
 
“(a)
in relation to a person serving one sentence imposed
 
 
under section 250 of the Sentencing Code, one half of
 
 
the sentence,
 
 
(aa)
in relation to a person serving one sentence of any other
 
 
kind, one-third of the sentence,”;
30
 
(d)
in subsection (4), omit paragraph (b) (and the “and” before it).
 
 
(3)
In section 244(3) (requisite custodial period for prisoners not subject to special
 
 
provision for release), for paragraph (a) substitute—
 
 
“(a)
in relation to a prisoner serving one sentence imposed under
 
 
section 91 of the PCC(S)A 2000 or section 250 of the Sentencing
35
 
Code, one-half of the sentence,
 
 
(aa)
in relation to a prisoner serving one sentence of any other kind,
 
 
one-third of the sentence,”.
 

Page 38

 
(4)
In section 244ZA(8) (requisite custodial period for certain violent or sexual
 
 
offenders), for paragraph (a) (but not the “and” at the end of that paragraph)
 
 
substitute—
 
 
“(a)
in relation to a prisoner serving one sentence within subsection
 
 
(4) or (5), one-half of the prisoner’s sentence,
5
 
(aa)
in relation to a prisoner serving one sentence within subsection
 
 
(6), two-thirds of the prisoner’s sentence,”.
 
 
(5)
In section 246(6) (power to release prisoners on licence before being required
 
 
to do so: interpretation), in the definition of “the requisite custodial period”,
 
 
after “paragraph (a)”, in both places it occurs, insert “, (aa)”.
10
 
(6)
In section 256B(1A)(a) (supervision after release of certain young offenders
 
 
serving less than 12 months) omit “or 262”.
 
 
(7)
In section 264 (consecutive terms)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (2F)(a)(i), after “243A(1)” insert “or (1A)”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (6)—
15
 
(i)
for paragraph (cb) (but not the “and” at the end of that
 
 
paragraph) substitute—
 
 
“(cb)
in relation to a sentence in respect of which
 
 
section 244ZA applies to the offender by virtue
 
 
of subsection (4) or (5) of that section, one-half
20
 
of the sentence,
 
 
(cc)
in relation to a sentence in respect of which
 
 
section 244ZA applies to the offender by virtue
 
 
of subsection (6) of that section, two-thirds of
 
 
the sentence,
25
 
(cd)
in relation to any sentence imposed under
 
 
section 91 of the PCC(S)A 2000, or in relation to
 
 
any other sentence imposed under section 250
 
 
of the Sentencing Code, one-half of the
 
 
sentence,”;
30
 
(ii)
in paragraph (d), for “one-half” substitute “one-third”.
 
 
(8)
In section 264B (consecutive terms: supplementary)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1)(b), omit “of imprisonment”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (1)(c)—
 
 
(i)
omit “of imprisonment”;
35
 
(ii)
after “imposed”, in the first place it occurs, insert “under section
 
 
250 of the Sentencing Code”;
 
 
(iii)
after “imposed”, in the second place it occurs, insert “(whether
 
 
or not under section 250 of the Code)”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (2)(a), after “the”, in the first place it occurs, insert
40
 
“minimum”;
 
 
(d)
in subsection (3), for “custodial period” substitute “minimum custodial
 
 
period”.
 

Page 39

 
(9)
In section 267 (alteration by order of relevant proportion of sentence)—
 
 
(a)
after “section 243A(3)(a)” insert “or (aa) ”;
 
 
(b)
after “244(3)(a)” insert “or (aa), section 244ZA(8)(a) or (aa)”;
 
 
(c)
for “264(6)(d)” substitute “264(6)(cb), (cc), (cd) or (d)”.
 
 
(10)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods)
5
 
Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/844) is revoked.
 
 
(11)
In consequence of the amendments made by this section—
 
 
(a)
in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012,
 
 
in Schedule 14, omit paragraph 6(3)(b);
 
 
(b)
in the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014, in Schedule 3, omit paragraph
10
 
18;
 
 
(c)
in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, omit section
 
 
130(6);
 
 
(d)
in the Home Detention Curfew and Requisite and Minimum Custodial
 
 
Periods (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1331) omit articles 3 and
15
 
4.
 
 
(12)
The amendments made by this section, as well as applying in relation to a
 
 
sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed on or after the day on which
 
 
those amendments come into force, apply in relation to a sentence of
 
 
imprisonment or detention imposed before that day if, immediately before
20
 
that day, the person serving the sentence—
 
 
(a)
is in custody or detention pursuant to the sentence, or
 
 
(b)
is on licence subject to a curfew condition within the meaning of
 
 
section 253 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
 
 
(13)
But subsection (12) does not have the effect that the amendments made by
25
 
this section apply in relation to a sentence imposed before the day on which
 
 
those amendments come into force if subsection (14) or (15) applies to the
 
 
sentence.
 
 
(14)
This subsection applies to a sentence if—
 
 
(a)
it is a sentence for an offence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 13 to the
30
 
Sentencing Code (as inserted by section 7 (6) of this Act), and
 
 
(b)
the sentence was not imposed under section 91 of the Powers of
 
 
Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, section 209 of the Armed Forces
 
 
Act 2006 or section 250 of the Sentencing Code.
 
 
(15)
This subsection applies to a sentence if—
35
 
(a)
section 244 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 applies in relation to the
 
 
sentence,
 
 
(b)
the sentence was imposed in respect of an offence for which a sentence
 
 
of life imprisonment could have been imposed (in the case of an
 
 
offender aged 21 or over) on the day on which this section comes into
40
 
force, and
 
 
(c)
the sentence would, on the date on which this section comes into force,
 
 
fall within subsection (4) or (5) of section 244ZA of the Criminal Justice
 

Page 40

 
Act 2003 if that section were read subject to the following modifications
 
 
(so far as necessary to enable the subsection in question to apply)—
 
 
(i)
subsections (4)(c) and (5)(c) (date of sentence) were omitted;
 
 
(ii)
subsections (4)(d)(ii) and (7)(b)(ii) (availability of life sentence
 
 
at date of imposition of sentence) were omitted;
5
 
(iii)
subsection (5)(a) also referred to a sentence under section 96
 
 
of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000.
 
 
(16)
If section 23 (limitation of provisions about home detention curfew) comes
 
 
into force before or at the same time as this section, this section is to be read
 
 
as if subsection (5) were omitted.
10
21
Release: consequential amendments relating to driving disqualification
 
 
(1)
In section 35A of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (extension of
 
 
disqualification where custodial sentence also imposed)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (4)—
 
 
(i)
in paragraph (fc), for the words from “, a period” to the end
15
 
of the paragraph substitute “—
 
 
“(i)
where the sentence falls within
 
 
subsection (4) or (5) of that section, a
 
 
period equal to one-half of the sentence;
 
 
(ii)
where the sentence falls within
20
 
subsection (6) of that section, a period
 
 
equal to two-thirds of the sentence;”;
 
 
(ii)
after paragraph (fd) insert—
 
 
“(fe)
in the case of any other sentence under section
 
 
250 of the Sentencing Code, a period equal to
25
 
one-half of the sentence;”;
 
 
(iii)
in paragraph (h), for “half” substitute “one-third of”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (8), after “244(3)(a)” insert “or (aa) or section 244ZA(8)(a)
 
 
or (aa)”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (9)—
30
 
(i)
before paragraph (a) insert—
 
 
“(za)
if the amending order makes provision in respect
 
 
of section 244ZA(8)(a) or (aa) of that Act, provide
 
 
that the proportion specified in subsection
 
 
(4)(fc)(i) or (ii) of this section is to be read, in
35
 
the case of a custodial sentence to which the
 
 
amending order applies, as a reference to the
 
 
new proportion;
 
 
(zb)
if the amending order makes provision in respect
 
 
of section 243A(3)(a) or 244(3)(a) of that Act,
40
 
provide that the proportion specified in
 
 
subsection (4)(fe) of this section is to be read, in
 
 
the case of a custodial sentence to which the
 

Page 41

 
amending order applies, as a reference to the
 
 
new proportion;”;
 
 
(ii)
in paragraph (a), for “243A(3)(a) or 244(3)(a)” substitute
 
 
“244(3)(aa)”.
 
 
(2)
The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended in accordance with subsections (3)
5
 
and (4) .
 
 
(3)
In section 177J (extension of disqualification where custodial sentence or
 
 
service detention also imposed)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (5), in the table—
 
 
(i)
before entry 1 insert—
10
 
“A1
 
 
a sentence of detention
 
 
half the term of the
 
 
under section 209
 
 
sentence of detention”;
 
 
(offenders under 18:
 
 
certain serious offences),
 
 
other than one in respect
15
 
of which section 244ZA or
 
 
247A of the Criminal
 
 
Justice Act 2003 applies to
 
 
the offender
 
 
(ii)
in entry 10, in column 2, at the end insert “by virtue of
20
 
subsection (4) or (5) of that section”;
 
 
(iii)
in that entry, in column 3, for “two-thirds” substitute “one-half”;
 
 
(iv)
after entry 10 insert—
 
 
“10A
 
 
a custodial sentence in
 
 
two-thirds of the
 
 
respect of which section
25
 
sentence”;
25
 
244ZA of the Criminal
 
 
Justice Act 2003 applies to
 
 
the offender by virtue of
 
 
subsection (6) of that
 
 
section
30
 
(v)
in entry 14, in column 3, for “half” substitute “one-third of”;
 
 
(b)
for subsection (8) substitute—
 
 
“(8)
Subsection (8A) applies where—
 
 
(a)
an order (“the amending order”) is made under section
 
 
267 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration by order
35
 
of relevant proportion of sentence), and
 
 
(b)
the amending order provides that the proportion of a
 
 
custodial sentence for the time being referred to in
 
 
section 243A(3)(a), 244(3)(a) or (aa) or 244ZA(8)(a) or
 
 
(aa) of that Act (release of prisoners in certain
40
 
circumstances) is to be read as a reference to another
 
 
proportion (the “new proportion”).
 

Page 42

 
(8A)
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
 
 
(a)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 243A(3)(a) or 244(3)(a) of that Act, provide that
 
 
the table in subsection (5) is to be read as if, in relation
 
 
to a custodial sentence to which the order applies, entry
5
 
A1 specified the new proportion;
 
 
(b)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 244ZA(8)(a) of that Act, provide that that table
 
 
is to be read as if, in relation to a custodial sentence to
 
 
which the order applies, entry 10 specified the new
10
 
proportion;
 
 
(c)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 244ZA(8)(aa) of that Act, provide that that table
 
 
is to be read as if, in relation to a custodial sentence to
 
 
which the order applies, entry 10A specified the new
15
 
proportion;
 
 
(d)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 244(3)(aa) of that Act, provide that that table is
 
 
to be read as if, in relation to a custodial sentence to
 
 
which the order applies, entry 14 specified the new
20
 
proportion.”
 
 
(4)
In section 373 (orders, regulations and rules), in each of subsections (3)(d),
 
 
(5) and (5A), for “177J(7)” substitute “177J(8A)”.
 
 
(5)
In section 166 of the Sentencing Code (extension of disqualification where
 
 
custodial sentence also imposed)—
25
 
(a)
in subsection (5), in the table—
 
 
(i)
after entry 1 insert—
 
 
“1ZA
 
 
a sentence of detention
 
 
half the term of the
 
 
under section 250
 
 
sentence of detention”;
 
 
(offenders under 18:
30
 
certain serious offences),
 
 
other than one in respect
 
 
of which section 244ZA or
 
 
247A of the Criminal
 
 
Justice Act 2003 applies to
35
 
the offender
 
 
(ii)
in entry 6B, in column 2, at the end insert “by virtue of
 
 
subsection (4) or (5) of that section”;
 
 
(iii)
in that entry, in column 3, for “two-thirds” substitute “one-half”;
 
 
(iv)
after entry 6B insert—
40
 
“6BA
 
 
a custodial sentence in
 
 
two-thirds of the
 
 
respect of which section
 
 
sentence”;
 
 
244ZA of the Criminal
 
 
Justice Act 2003 applies to
 

Page 43

 
the offender by virtue of
 
 
subsection (6) of that
 
 
section
 
 
(v)
in entry 8, in column 3, for “half” substitute “one-third of”;
 
 
(b)
for subsection (7) substitute—
5
 
“(7)
Subsection (7A) applies where—
 
 
(a)
an order (“the amending order”) is made under section
 
 
267 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration by order
 
 
of relevant proportion of sentence), and
 
 
(b)
the amending order provides that the proportion of a
10
 
custodial sentence for the time being referred to in
 
 
section 243A(3)(a), 244(3)(a) or (aa) or 244ZA(8)(a) or
 
 
(aa) of that Act (release of prisoners in certain
 
 
circumstances) is to be read as a reference to another
 
 
proportion (the “new proportion”).
15
 
(7A)
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
 
 
(a)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 243A(3)(a) or 244(3)(a) of that Act, provide that
 
 
the table in subsection (5) is to be read as if, in relation
 
 
to a custodial sentence to which the order applies, entry
20
 
1ZA specified the new proportion;
 
 
(b)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 244ZA(8)(a) of that Act, provide that that table
 
 
is to be read as if, in relation to a custodial sentence to
 
 
which the order applies, entry 6B specified the new
25
 
proportion;
 
 
(c)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 244ZA(8)(aa) of that Act, provide that that table
 
 
is to be read as if, in relation to a custodial sentence to
 
 
which the order applies, entry 6BA specified the new
30
 
proportion;
 
 
(d)
if the amending order makes provision in respect of
 
 
section 244(3)(aa) of that Act, provide that that table is
 
 
to be read as if, in relation to a custodial sentence to
 
 
which the order applies, entry 8 specified the new
35
 
proportion.”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (8), for “(7)” substitute “(7A)”;
 
 
(d)
in subsection (9), for “(7)” substitute “(7A)”.
 
 
(6)
In consequence of the amendments made by this section—
 
 
(a)
in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012,
40
 
in Schedule 14, omit paragraph 1(b);
 
 
(b)
in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, in Schedule 21,
 
 
omit paragraph 4.
 
 
(7)
The amendments made by this section apply in relation to—
 

Page 44

 
(a)
an order under section 34 or 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
 
 
which is made on or after the day on which this section comes into
 
 
force,
 
 
(b)
a driving disqualification order within the meaning of the Armed
 
 
Forces Act 2006 which is made on or after that day, and
5
 
(c)
a driving disqualification order within the meaning of the Sentencing
 
 
Code which is made on or after that day.
 
22
Release on licence of certain violent or sexual offenders: service offences
 
 
(1)
Section 244ZA of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (release on licence of certain
 
 
violent or sexual offenders) is amended as follows.
10
 
(2)
After subsection (8) insert—
 
 
“(9)
For the purposes of this section, a reference to an offence specified in
 
 
a paragraph or Part of Schedule 15 includes a reference to a service
 
 
offence as respects which the corresponding civil offence is so specified.
 
 
(10)
In subsection (9) —
15
 
(a)
“service offence” means an offence under—
 
 
(i)
section 70 of the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act
 
 
1955,
 
 
(ii)
section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, or
 
 
(iii)
section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006;
20
 
(b)
“corresponding civil offence” means—
 
 
(i)
in relation to an offence under section 70 of the Army
 
 
Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, the corresponding
 
 
civil offence within the meaning of that Act;
 
 
(ii)
in relation to an offence under section 42 of the Naval
25
 
Discipline Act 1957, the civil offence within the meaning
 
 
of that section;
 
 
(iii)
in relation to an offence under section 42 of the Armed
 
 
Forces Act 2006, the corresponding offence under the
 
 
law of England and Wales within the meaning of that
30
 
section.
 
 
(11)
Section 48 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (supplementary provisions
 
 
relating to ancillary service offences) applies for the purposes of
 
 
subsection (10) (b) (iii) above as it applies for the purposes of the
 
 
provisions of that Act referred to in subsection (3)(b) of that section.”
35
 
(3)
The amendments made by this section, as well as applying in relation to
 
 
offences committed on or after the day on which those amendments come
 
 
into force, apply in relation to offences committed before that day.
 
23
Limitation of provisions about home detention curfew
 
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended in accordance with subsections (2)
40
 
to (5) .
 

Page 45

 
(2)
In section 246 (power to release prisoners on licence before required to do
 
 
so)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, after release insert “certain”;
 
 
(b)
for subsection (1) substitute—
 
 
“(1)
Subject to subsections (1A), (2) and (4), the Secretary of State
5
 
may release on licence under this section a fixed-term prisoner
 
 
serving only one or more sentences under section 91 of the
 
 
PCC(S)A 2000 or section 250 of the Sentencing Code at any
 
 
time during the period of 365 days ending with the day on
 
 
which the prisoner will have served the requisite custodial
10
 
period.”;
 
 
(c)
after subsection (1) insert—
 
 
“(1A)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a prisoner to whom section
 
 
244ZA or 247A applies.”;
 
 
(d)
in subsection (2), in the opening words, for “(1)(a)” substitute “(1)”;
15
 
(e)
in subsection (4)(ac)—
 
 
(i)
in sub-paragraph (i), for “244ZA(4)(c), (5)(c) and (6)(c)”
 
 
substitute “244ZA(6)(c)”;
 
 
(ii)
at the end of that sub-paragraph insert “and”;
 
 
(iii)
omit sub-paragraph (ii) and the “and” at the end of that
20
 
sub-paragraph;
 
 
(f)
omit subsection (4)(d);
 
 
(g)
in subsection (4A)—
 
 
(i)
omit paragraph (a) and the “and” at the end of that paragraph;
 
 
(ii)
in paragraph (b), for “that Act” substitute “the Armed Forces
25
 
Act 2006”;
 
 
(h)
in subsection (5)(a), for “(1)(a)” substitute “(1)”;
 
 
(i)
in subsection (6)—
 
 
(i)
for the definition of “the requisite custodial period” substitute—
 
 
““the requisite custodial period” —
30
 
(a)
means, for the purposes of subsection (4)(gb)(ii),
 
 
the period mentioned in section 244(3) (a) (subject
 
 
to sections 263 and 264);
 
 
(b)
otherwise, in relation to a person serving any
 
 
sentence, has the meaning given by paragraph
35
 
(a) or (b) of section 243A(3) or (as the case may
 
 
be) paragraph (a) or (d) of section 244(3);”;
 
 
(ii)
omit the definition of “term of imprisonment”.
 
 
(3)
In section 255BA (automatic release: other offenders) (as inserted by section
 
 
29 (2) )—
40
 
(a)
in subsection (2) , for the words from “means—” to the end of the
 
 
subsection substitute “means the period of 56 days beginning with
 
 
the day on which P returns to custody.”;
 

Page 46

 
(b)
in subsection (10) , for the words from “either or both” to the end of
 
 
the subsection substitute “subsection (2) so as to alter the period for
 
 
the time being specified in that subsection.”
 
 
(4)
In section 255C(6) (prisoners excluded from automatic release), after “if P”
 
 
insert “is a relevant young offender who”.
5
 
(5)
In section 264AA(1A) (consecutive terms: detention and training orders), for
 
 
“246(1)(a)” substitute “246(1)”;
 
 
(6)
In consequence of the amendments made by this section—
 
 
(a)
in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012—
 
 
(i)
omit section 112(6);
10
 
(ii)
in Schedule 20, omit paragraph 5(3);
 
 
(b)
in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, in Schedule 1, omit
 
 
paragraph 7(3);
 
 
(c)
in the Sentencing Act 2020, in Schedule 24, omit paragraph 224(2)(b)
 
 
and (3);
15
 
(d)
the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Home Detention Curfew) Order 2023
 
 
(S.I. 2023/390) is revoked;
 
 
(e)
in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, omit section 68(2);
 
 
(f)
in the Home Detention Curfew and Requisite and Minimum Custodial
 
 
Periods (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1331), omit article 2.
20
 
(7)
The amendments made by this section do not apply in relation to a person
 
 
who, immediately before the day on which this section comes into force, is
 
 
on licence subject to a curfew condition within the meaning of section 253 of
 
 
the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
 

Licences

25
24
Licence conditions
 
 
(1)
In section 64 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (drug testing
 
 
requirement)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1)—
 
 
(i)
at the end of paragraph (a) insert “, and”;
30
 
(ii)
omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (b);
 
 
(iii)
omit paragraph (c);
 
 
(b)
omit subsection (1A);
 
 
(c)
in subsection (2), for the words from “For the purpose” to “they”
 
 
substitute “Those conditions”.
35
 
(2)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended in accordance with subsections (3)
 
 
to (7) .
 
 
(3)
In section 250 (licence conditions)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (4)(b)—
 

Page 47

 
(i)
before sub-paragraph (i) insert—
 
 
“(ai)
a driving prohibition condition (see
 
 
section 250A ),”;
 
 
(ii)
after sub-paragraph (ai) (inserted by sub-paragraph (i) above)
 
 
insert—
5
 
“(bi)
a public event attendance prohibition
 
 
condition (see section 250B ),”;
 
 
(iii)
after sub-paragraph (bi) (inserted by sub-paragraph (ii) above)
 
 
insert—
 
 
“(ci)
a drinking establishment entry
10
 
prohibition condition (see section 250C ),”;
 
 
(iv)
after sub-paragraph (ci) (inserted by sub-paragraph (iii) above)
 
 
insert—
 
 
“(di)
a restriction zone condition (see section
 
 
250D ),”;
15
 
(b)
after subsection (8) insert—
 
 
“(8A)
An order under this section or a condition included in a licence
 
 
under this section may confer a discretion on an officer of a
 
 
provider of probation services.”
 
 
(4)
After section 250 insert—
20
“250A
Driving prohibition condition
 
 
(1)
A driving prohibition condition is a condition prohibiting a person
 
 
from driving a motor vehicle on a road or other public place.
 
 
(2)
A driving prohibition condition may prohibit a person—
 
 
(a)
from driving at any time or at times specified in the condition;
25
 
(b)
from driving any motor vehicle or a motor vehicle of a
 
 
description so specified;
 
 
(c)
from driving on any road or other public place or on a road
 
 
or other public place in an area so specified.
 
 
(3)
In this section—
30
 
“motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act
 
 
1988 except that for this purpose section 189(1) of that Act is
 
 
to be read as if paragraph (c) (certain electrically assisted pedal
 
 
cycles not to be treated as motor vehicles) were omitted;
 
 
“road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1988 (see
35
 
section 192 of that Act).”
 
 
(5)
After section 250A (inserted by subsection (4) ) insert—
 
“250B
Public event attendance prohibition condition
 
 
(1)
A public event attendance prohibition condition is a condition
 
 
prohibiting a person from attending a public event.
40

Page 48

 
(2)
A public event attendance prohibition condition may prohibit a person
 
 
from attending a public event at any time or at times specified in the
 
 
condition.
 
 
(3)
A public event attendance prohibition condition may prohibit a person
 
 
from attending—
5
 
(a)
a public event specified in the condition,
 
 
(b)
a public event of a description so specified, or
 
 
(c)
any public event.
 
 
(4)
In this section “public event” means any event to which the public
 
 
or a section of the public has access, whether on payment or
10
 
otherwise.”
 
 
(6)
After subsection 250B (inserted by subsection (5) ) insert—
 
“250C
Drinking establishment entry prohibition condition
 
 
(1)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition condition is a condition
 
 
prohibiting a person from entering a drinking establishment.
15
 
(2)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition condition may prohibit a
 
 
person from entering a drinking establishment at any time or at times
 
 
specified in the condition.
 
 
(3)
A drinking establishment entry prohibition condition may prohibit a
 
 
person from entering—
20
 
(a)
a drinking establishment specified in the condition,
 
 
(b)
a drinking establishment of a description so specified, or
 
 
(c)
any drinking establishment.
 
 
(4)
In this section “drinking establishment” means—
 
 
(a)
any premises or part of premises used principally for the sale
25
 
of alcohol to the public or a section of the public, for
 
 
consumption on the premises or part of premises, where the
 
 
sale is not made subject to a condition that a person reside at,
 
 
or consume food on, the premises, or
 
 
(b)
any premises—
30
 
(i)
that are open to the public or a section of the public for
 
 
the purposes of entertainment,
 
 
(ii)
that are, for those purposes, open for any continuous
 
 
period of time beginning at any time on a day and not
 
 
ending at or before midnight on that day, and
35
 
(iii)
on which the sale of alcohol to the public or a section
 
 
of the public for consumption on the premises takes
 
 
place.”
 

Page 49

 
(7)
After section 250C (inserted by subsection (6) ) insert—
 
“250D
Restriction zone condition
 
 
(1)
A restriction zone condition is a condition requiring a person to remain
 
 
in one or more areas specified in the condition.
 
 
(2)
A restriction zone condition may require a person to remain in different
5
 
areas at different times.
 
 
(3)
Where a restriction zone condition specifies different areas which do
 
 
not adjoin each other, it may include provision for the person to whom
 
 
the condition applies to travel between any of those areas.”
 
 
(8)
In consequence of the provision made by subsection (1) , in section 11(2) of
10
 
the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 omit paragraphs (b) to (d).
 
 
(9)
The amendments made by this section, as well as applying to a person released
 
 
on or after the day on which those amendments come into force, apply to a
 
 
person released before that day.
 
 
25
Licence conditions: offenders sentenced under repealed armed forces
15

legislation

 
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 62 (release on licence etc: electronic monitoring conditions), in
 
 
subsection (5)—
 
 
(a)
omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (g) and insert—
20
 
“(ga)
a sentence of detention under section 71A(3) or (4) of
 
 
the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or section
 
 
43A(3) or (4) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957,”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph (h), for “that Act” substitute “the Armed Forces Act
 
 
2006”;
25
 
(c)
at the end of paragraph (h) insert “, and
 
 
“(i)
a custodial order under—
 
 
(i)
section 71AA of the Army Act 1955 or the Air
 
 
Force Act 1955, or section 43AA of the Naval
 
 
Discipline Act 1957, or
30
 
(ii)
paragraph 10 of Schedule 5A to the Army Act
 
 
1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or paragraph 10
 
 
of Schedule 4A to the Naval Discipline Act
 
 
1957,”.
 
 
(3)
In section 62A (release on licence etc: compulsory electronic monitoring
35
 
conditions), in subsection (4)—
 
 
(a)
omit the “or” at the end of paragraph (c) and insert—
 
 
“(ca)
a sentence of detention under section 71A(4) of the
 
 
Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or section
 

Page 50

 
43A(4) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (detention of
 
 
offenders under 18 convicted of certain offences),”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph (d), for “that Act” substitute “the Armed Forces Act
 
 
2006”;
 
 
(c)
at the end of paragraph (d) insert “, or
5
 
“(e)
a custodial order under—
 
 
(i)
section 71AA of the Army Act 1955 or the Air
 
 
Force Act 1955, or section 43AA of the Naval
 
 
Discipline Act 1957, or
 
 
(ii)
paragraph 10 of Schedule 5A to the Army Act
10
 
1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or paragraph 10
 
 
of Schedule 4A to the Naval Discipline Act
 
 
1957.”
 
 
(4)
In section 64 (release on licence etc: drug testing requirements), in subsection
 
 
(5)—
15
 
(a)
omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (g) and insert—
 
 
“(ga)
a sentence of detention under section 71A(3) or (4) of
 
 
the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or section
 
 
43A(3) or (4) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957,”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph (h), for “that Act” substitute “the Armed Forces Act
20
 
2006”;
 
 
(c)
at the end of paragraph (h) insert “, and
 
 
“(i)
a custodial order under—
 
 
(i)
section 71AA of the Army Act 1955 or the Air
 
 
Force Act 1955, or section 43AA of the Naval
25
 
Discipline Act 1957, or
 
 
(ii)
paragraph 10 of Schedule 5A to the Army Act
 
 
1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or paragraph 10
 
 
of Schedule 4A to the Naval Discipline Act
 
 
1957,”.
30
 
(5)
In section 64A (release on licence etc: drug appointments), in subsection (8),
 
 
in the definition of “sentence of imprisonment”—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph (f), after “2006” insert “or section 71A(4) of the Army
 
 
Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or section 43A(4) of the Naval
 
 
Discipline Act 1957”;
35
 
(b)
in paragraph (g), for “that Act” substitute “the Armed Forces Act 2006
 
 
or section 71A(3) of the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or
 
 
section 43A(3) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957”.
 
 
(6)
The amendments made by this section, as well as applying to a person released
 
 
on or after the day on which those amendments come into force, apply to a
40
 
person released before that day.
 

Page 51

Recall and further release

 
26
Power to make provision about recall to prison
 
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 254 (recall of prisoners while on licence), after subsection (6) insert—
 
 
“(6A)
The Secretary of State may by order amend this Chapter so as to make
5
 
provision for and about circumstances or cases in which the Secretary
 
 
of State may, or may not, revoke a person’s licence and recall the
 
 
person to prison under subsection (1).
 
 
(6B)
An order under subsection (6A) may confer a function (including the
 
 
exercise of a discretion) on the Secretary of State or another person,
10
 
or description of person, specified in the order.”
 
 
(3)
In section 330(5)(a) (orders subject to affirmative procedure), at the appropriate
 
 
place insert—
 
 
“section 254 (6A) ,”.
 
27
Further release after recall: introductory
15
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
For section 255A substitute—
 
“255A
Further release after recall: introductory
 
 
(1)
This section applies for the purpose of identifying which of sections
 
 
255B, 255BA and 255C governs the further release of a person who
20
 
has been recalled under section 254.
 
 
(2)
In this section—
 
 
(a)
subsections (3) to (6) apply to a person who is serving only
 
 
one or more sentences imposed under section 250 of the
 
 
Sentencing Code or section 91 of the PCC(S)A 2000 (a “relevant
25
 
young offender”);
 
 
(b)
subsections (7) and (8) apply to other persons.
 
 
(3)
The Secretary of State must, on recalling a relevant young offender
 
 
other than an offender whose case was referred to the Board under
 
 
section 244ZB, consider whether the offender is suitable for release at
30
 
the end of the section 255B automatic release period (see section
 
 
255B (1A) and (1B) for the meaning of this period).
 
 
(4)
A relevant young offender is suitable for release at the end of the
 
 
section 255B automatic release period only if—
 
 
(a)
the offender—
35
 
(i)
is aged 18 or over,
 
 
(ii)
is serving a sentence of less than 12 months,
 

Page 52

 
(iii)
has not been recalled on account of being charged with
 
 
a serious offence, and
 
 
(iv)
is not being managed at level 2 or 3, as specified in
 
 
guidance for the time being issued under section 325(8),
 
 
by a responsible authority under arrangements made
5
 
under that section (arrangements for assessing etc risks
 
 
posed by certain offenders), or
 
 
(b)
where paragraph (a) does not apply, the Secretary of State is
 
 
satisfied that the offender will not present a risk of serious
 
 
harm to members of the public if released at the end of the
10
 
section 255B automatic release period.
 
 
(5)
For the purposes of subsection (4) (a) (iii) , “serious offence” means—
 
 
(a)
murder, or
 
 
(b)
an offence listed in Schedule 18 to the Sentencing Code.
 
 
(6)
A relevant young offender must be dealt with—
15
 
(a)
in accordance with section 255B if suitable for release at the
 
 
end of the section 255B automatic release period;
 
 
(b)
in accordance with section 255C otherwise,
 
 
but that is subject, where applicable, to section 243A(2) (unconditional
 
 
release).
20
 
(7)
A person who is not a relevant young offender must be dealt with—
 
 
(a)
in accordance with section 255BA if—
 
 
(i)
the person is eligible for release at the end of the section
 
 
255BA automatic release period (see section 255BA (2)
 
 
for the meaning of this period ), and
25
 
(ii)
the Secretary of State has not made a determination
 
 
under subsection (5) of that section in relation to the
 
 
person;
 
 
(b)
in accordance with section 255C otherwise,
 
 
but that is subject, where applicable, to section 243A(2) (unconditional
30
 
release).
 
 
(8)
A person who is not a relevant young offender is eligible for release
 
 
at the end of the section 255BA automatic release period except where
 
 
the person—
 
 
(a)
is an extended sentence prisoner,
35
 
(b)
is serving a sentence imposed under section 236A or under
 
 
section 265 or 278 of the Sentencing Code (prisoners serving
 
 
sentences for offenders of particular concern),
 
 
(c)
is serving a sentence imposed in respect of an offence within
 
 
section 247A(2) (terrorist prisoners),
40
 
(d)
is serving a sentence for an offence listed in Schedule 19ZB
 
 
(offences involving or connected with terrorism or a threat to
 
 
national security),
 

Page 53

 
(e)
is serving a sentence for an offence listed in Part 3 of Schedule
 
 
13 to the Sentencing Code (offences involving or connected
 
 
with a threat to national security),
 
 
(f)
is a relevant terrorist offender for the purposes of section
 
 
325(2)(aa) (see section 327),
5
 
(g)
falls, immediately before being recalled, within section 325(2)(c)
 
 
(persons considered to be persons who may be at risk of
 
 
involvement in terrorism-related activity),
 
 
(h)
is, immediately before being recalled, a person who is
 
 
considered by the Secretary of State to be a person who may
10
 
be at risk of involvement in foreign power threat activity within
 
 
the meaning of Part 1 of the National Security Act 2023 (see
 
 
section 33 of that Act),
 
 
(i)
is being managed, immediately before being recalled, at level
 
 
2 or 3, as specified in guidance for the time being issued under
15
 
section 325(8), by a responsible authority under arrangements
 
 
made under that section (arrangements for assessing etc risks
 
 
posed by certain offenders),
 
 
(j)
is a person whose case was referred to the Board under section
 
 
244ZB (referral of high-risk offenders),
20
 
(k)
has been recalled on account of being charged with an offence,
 
 
or
 
 
(l)
is a person to whom Part 2 or 3 of Schedule 20B applies
 
 
(transitional cases).
 
 
(9)
For the purposes of subsection (8) (a) , an “extended sentence prisoner”
25
 
is a prisoner serving an extended sentence imposed under—
 
 
(a)
section 226A, 226B, 227 or 228 of this Act,
 
 
(b)
section 254, 266 or 279 of the Sentencing Code, or
 
 
(c)
section 85 of the PCC(S)A 2000,
 
 
and paragraph (c) includes (in accordance with paragraph 1(3) of
30
 
Schedule 11 to the PCC(S)A 2000) a reference to section 58 of the Crime
 
 
and Disorder Act 1998.
 
 
(10)
The Secretary of State may by order—
 
 
(a)
amend subsection (8) so as to—
 
 
(i)
add a description of person;
35
 
(ii)
alter or remove a description of person for the time
 
 
being mentioned in the subsection;
 
 
(b)
further amend this Act for the purpose of making provision
 
 
which is consequential on provision made under paragraph
 
 
(a) .
40
 
(11)
An order under subsection (10) may confer a function (including the
 
 
exercise of a discretion) on the Secretary of State or another person,
 
 
or description of person, specified in the order.”
 

Page 54

 
(3)
In section 330 (5) (a) (orders subject to affirmative procedure), at the appropriate
 
 
place insert—
 
 
“section 255A (10) ,”.
 
 
(4)
After Schedule 19ZA insert the Schedule set out in Schedule 4 to this Act
 
 
(offences where offender not eligible for release at the end of the section
5
 
255BA automatic release period).
 
 
(5)
Omit Schedule 19AA (offences where offender not suitable for automatic
 
 
release).
 
 
28
Further release after recall: relevant young offenders suitable for automatic
 

release

10
 
(1)
Section 255B of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In the heading, after “release” insert “: relevant young offenders”.
 
 
(3)
For subsection (1) substitute—
 
 
“(1)
A relevant young offender who is suitable for automatic release at the
 
 
end of the section 255B automatic release period (“P”) must—
15
 
(a)
on return to prison, be informed that they will be released
 
 
under this section (subject to subsections (8) and (9)), and
 
 
(b)
at the end of the section 255B automatic release period, be
 
 
released by the Secretary of State on licence under this Chapter
 
 
(unless P is released before that date under subsection (2) or
20
 
(5)).
 
 
(1A)
In the case of a relevant young offender recalled under section 254
 
 
while on licence under a provision of this Chapter other than section
 
 
246, “the section 255B automatic release period” means—
 
 
(a)
where the offender is serving a sentence of less than 12 months,
25
 
the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the
 
 
offender returns to custody;
 
 
(b)
where the offender is serving a sentence of 12 months or more,
 
 
the period of 28 days beginning with that day.
 
 
(1B)
In the case of a relevant young offender recalled under section 254
30
 
while on licence under section 246, “the section 255B automatic release
 
 
period” means whichever of the following ends later—
 
 
(a)
the period described in subsection (1A) (a) or (b) (as
 
 
appropriate);
 
 
(b)
the requisite custodial period which the offender would have
35
 
served under section 243A or 244 but for the earlier release.”
 
 
(4)
In subsection (9), in the words before paragraph (a) and in paragraph (b), for
 
 
“automatic release” substitute “release at the end of the section 255B automatic
 
 
release period”.
 

Page 55

 
(5)
For subsection (10) substitute—
 
 
“(10)
Subsections (8) and (9) do not apply where P falls within section
 
 
255A (4) (a) , unless the Secretary of State receives information that, after
 
 
being recalled, P has been charged with a serious offence (within the
 
 
meaning of section 255A (5) ).”
5
 
(6)
At the end insert—
 
 
“(11)
For the purposes of subsections (1A) and (1B) , a person returns to
 
 
custody when the person, having been recalled, is detained (whether
 
 
or not in prison) in pursuance of the sentence.
 
 
(12)
In this section, “relevant young offender” has the same meaning as in
10
 
section 255A.”
 
29
Further release after recall: other offenders eligible for automatic release
 
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
After section 255B insert—
 
“255BA
Automatic release: other offenders
15
 
(1)
A prisoner who is eligible for automatic release at the end of the
 
 
section 255BA automatic release period (“P”) must—
 
 
(a)
on return to prison, be informed that they will be released
 
 
under this section (subject to subsections (5) to (9) ), and
 
 
(b)
at the end of the section 255BA automatic release period, be
20
 
released by the Secretary of State on licence under this Chapter
 
 
(unless P is released before that date under subsection (3) or
 
 
P falls within subsection (9) (b) ).
 
 
(2)
The “section 255BA automatic release period”, in relation to P, means—
 
 
(a)
if P is recalled under section 254 while on licence under a
25
 
provision of this Chapter other than section 246, the period of
 
 
56 days beginning with the day on which P returns to custody;
 
 
(b)
if P is recalled under section 254 while on licence under section
 
 
246, whichever of the following ends later—
 
 
(i)
the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which
30
 
P returns to custody;
 
 
(ii)
the requisite custodial period which P would have
 
 
served under section 243A or 244 but for the earlier
 
 
release.
 
 
(3)
The Secretary of State may, at any time after P is returned to prison,
35
 
release P again on licence under this Chapter.
 
 
(4)
The Secretary of State must not release P under subsection (3) unless
 
 
the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is not necessary for the
 
 
protection of the public that P should remain in prison until the end
 
 
of the section 255BA automatic release period.
40

Page 56

 
(5)
Subsection (9) applies in relation to P if at any time the Secretary of
 
 
State determines that P should not be released at the end of the section
 
 
255BA automatic release period.
 
 
(6)
The Secretary of State may make a determination under subsection
 
 
(5) only if one or both of the following conditions is satisfied.
5
 
(7)
The first condition is that the Secretary of State believes on reasonable
 
 
grounds that P would, if released, pose a significant risk to members
 
 
of the public of serious harm occasioned by the commission of any of
 
 
the following offences—
 
 
(a)
murder;
10
 
(b)
an offence listed in Schedule 18 to the Sentencing Code.
 
 
(8)
The second condition is that, after P is recalled, the Secretary of State
 
 
receives information—
 
 
(a)
that results in a determination that P may be at risk of
 
 
involvement in terrorism-related activity (within the meaning
15
 
of section 325(9)),
 
 
(b)
that results in the Secretary of State considering that P may be
 
 
at risk of involvement in foreign power threat activity within
 
 
the meaning of Part 1 of the National Security Act 2023 (see
 
 
section 33 of that Act),
20
 
(c)
that results in a determination that, if released at the end of
 
 
the section 255BA automatic release period, P would be
 
 
managed at level 2 or 3, as specified in guidance for the time
 
 
being issued under section 325(8), by a responsible authority
 
 
under arrangements made under that section (arrangements
25
 
for assessing etc risks posed by certain offenders), or
 
 
(d)
that P has been charged with an offence.
 
 
(9)
Where this subsection applies—
 
 
(a)
if the Secretary of State has already informed P that P will be
 
 
released under this section, the Secretary of State must inform
30
 
P that P will not be released under this section, and
 
 
(b)
P is to be dealt with in accordance with section 255C (and
 
 
accordingly not released under this section).
 
 
(10)
The Secretary of State may by order amend either or both of
 
 
paragraphs (a) and (b) (i) of subsection (2) so as to alter the period for
35
 
the time being specified in those paragraphs.
 
 
(11)
For the purposes of subsection (2) , a person returns to custody when
 
 
the person, having been recalled, is detained (whether or not in prison)
 
 
in pursuance of the sentence.”
 
 
(3)
In section 330(5)(a) (orders subject to affirmative procedure), at the appropriate
40
 
place insert—
 
 
“section 255BA (10) ,”.
 

Page 57

 
(4)
In section 255BA (automatic release: other offenders) (as inserted by subsection
 
 
(2) ), after subsection (4) insert—
 
 
“(4A)
The Secretary of State must not be satisfied as mentioned in subsection
 
 
(4) unless the Secretary of State considers that there is no more than
 
 
a minimal risk that, if P were released before the end of the period
5
 
mentioned in subsection (1) (b) , P would commit a further offence the
 
 
commission of which would cause serious harm (and section 237A(4)
 
 
applies for the purposes of that assessment).”
 
30
Further release after recall: supplementary
 
 
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended in accordance with subsections (2)
10
 
to (10) .
 
 
(2)
In section 237A(12)(b) (public protection decisions), for “not suitable for”
 
 
substitute “excluded from”.
 
 
(3)
In section 240ZA(6) (time remanded in custody to count as time served), after
 
 
“255B(1)” insert “or 255BA (1) ”.
15
 
(4)
In section 240A(3B) (time remanded on bail to count as time served), after
 
 
“255B(1)” insert “or 255BA (1) ”.
 
 
(5)
In section 244ZA(2) (release on licence of certain violent or sexual offenders),
 
 
in paragraph (c), for “and” substitute “to”.
 
 
(6)
In section 247A(7) (restricted eligibility for release on licence of terrorist
20
 
prisoners), for “255B and” substitute “ 255A to”.
 
 
(7)
In section 255C (prisoners excluded from automatic release)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, for “not suitable for automatic release” substitute
 
 
“excluded from automatic release under section 255B or 255BA ”;
 
 
(b)
for subsection (1), substitute—
25
 
“(1)
This section applies to a prisoner (“P”)—
 
 
(a)
who is a relevant young offender and—
 
 
(i)
whose case was referred to the Board under
 
 
section 244ZB, or
 
 
(ii)
who is not considered suitable for release at the
30
 
end of the section 255B automatic release period
 
 
(see sections 255A (4) and 255B(9) ), or
 
 
(b)
who is not a relevant young offender and—
 
 
(i)
who is not a prisoner eligible for automatic
 
 
release at the end of the section 255BA automatic
35
 
release period (see section 255A (8) ) , or
 
 
(ii)
who the Secretary of State has determined
 
 
should not be released at the end of the section
 
 
255BA automatic release period (see section
 
 
255BA (5) ).”;
40

Page 58

 
(c)
at the end insert—
 
 
“(9)
In this section, “relevant young offender” has the same meaning
 
 
as in section 255A.”
 
 
(8)
In section 256AZA(4) (release after recall where further sentence being served),
 
 
after “255B,” insert “ 255BA ,”.
5
 
(9)
In section 256AZB(1) (power to change test for release following recall)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph (a), for “automatic release” substitute “release at the end
 
 
of the section 255B automatic release period”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph (b), after “section 255B(2)” insert “ , 255BA (3) ”;
 
 
(c)
after paragraph (b) insert—
10
 
“(ba)
the test to be applied by the Secretary of State in
 
 
determining under subsection (5) of section 255BA that
 
 
a person should not be released at the end of the section
 
 
255BA automatic release period;”.
 
 
(10)
In Schedule 19B (prisoners returning to the UK: modifications of Chapter 6
15
 
of Part 12), in paragraphs 6 and 12, for paragraph (b) substitute—
 
 
“(b)
section 255C (prisoners excluded from automatic release)
 
 
applied to them.”
 
 
(11)
In section 246(2C) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (crediting of time in service
 
 
custody), after “255B(1)” insert “or 255BA (1) ”.
20
 
(12)
In consequence of the amendments made by sections 27 to 29 and this
 
 
section—
 
 
(a)
in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012,
 
 
in Schedule 20 omit paragraph 7;
 
 
(b)
in the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014, omit section 9(4) and (5);
25
 
(c)
in the Sentencing Act 2020, in Schedule 24 omit paragraph 228;
 
 
(d)
in the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, in Schedule 13
 
 
omit paragraph 9(6) and (7)(b);
 
 
(e)
in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, omit section
 
 
132(6) and (7);
30
 
(f)
the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Suitability for Fixed Term Recall) Order
 
 
2025 (S.I. 2025/833) is revoked.
 
 
(13)
The amendments made by sections 27 , 28 , 29 (1) to (3) , this section and
 
 
Schedule 4 , as well as applying to a person recalled on or after the day on
 
 
which those amendments come into force, apply to a person (“P”) recalled
35
 
before that day except where P, immediately before that day—
 
 
(a)
is in custody or detention, and
 
 
(b)
is not being dealt with in accordance with section 255C (prisoners
 
 
excluded from automatic release).
 

Page 59

Removal of requirement for supervision after sentence

 
31
Repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence
 
 
(1)
In the Criminal Justice Act 2003 —
 
 
(a)
for the italic heading before section 256AA, for “offenders” substitute
 
 
“certain young offenders after release”;
5
 
(b)
omit sections 256AA to 256AC (supervision after end of sentence of
 
 
prisoners serving less than 2 years);
 
 
(c)
omit Schedule 19A (supervision default orders).
 
 
(2)
In the Sentencing Code, omit section 247 (supervision after end of term of
 
 
detention and training order).
10
 
(3)
Schedule 5 makes provision which is consequential on subsections (1) and
 
 
(2) .
 
 
(4)
Subject to subsection (5) , the amendments made by this section and Schedule
 
 
5 have effect in relation to supervision requirements imposed on a person
 
 
under section 256AA of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 before the day on which
15
 
the amendments come into force.
 
 
(5)
The amendments do not have effect in relation to a failure, or alleged failure,
 
 
to comply with such a supervision requirement where the failure or alleged
 
 
failure began, or is alleged to have begun, before the day on which the
 
 
amendments come into force.
20

Early removal of prisoners liable to removal from the United Kingdom

 
32
Early removal of prisoners liable to removal from United Kingdom
 
 
(1)
In section 260 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (early removal of prisoners
 
 
liable to removal from United Kingdom)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1) omit “after the prisoner has served the minimum
25
 
pre-removal custodial period”;
 
 
(b)
omit subsection (2);
 
 
(c)
omit subsection (6);
 
 
(d)
in subsection (9) omit from “and in such a case—” to the end of that
 
 
subsection.
30
 
(2)
In consequence of the amendments made by subsection (1) —
 
 
(a)
in section 257(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (additional days for
 
 
disciplinary offences)—
 
 
(i)
at the end of paragraph (a) insert “and”;
 
 
(ii)
omit paragraph (b) and the “and” at the end of that paragraph;
35
 
(b)
in section 263 of that Act (concurrent terms), omit subsection (2A);
 
 
(c)
in section 330(5)(a) of that Act (procedure for orders), omit “section
 
 
260,”;
 

Page 60

 
(d)
in Schedule 20B to that Act (transitional provision), in paragraph
 
 
37(1)—
 
 
(i)
in paragraph (b) omit “during the period mentioned in
 
 
subsection (1) of that section”;
 
 
(ii)
in the words after paragraph (b) omit “after the end of that
5
 
period”;
 
 
(e)
in section 47 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (prisoners liable
 
 
to removal from United Kingdom), omit subsections (8) and (10).
 

Community order requirements and community requirements

 
33
Removal of maximum period for unpaid work requirement
10
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 (meaning of “unpaid work requirement”:
 
 
community order and suspended sentence order)—
 
 
(i)
in sub-paragraph (1)(b), omit “, during a period of 12 months,”;
 
 
(ii)
omit sub-paragraph (2);
15
 
(b)
in Schedule 10, omit paragraph 21 and the italic heading before it;
 
 
(c)
in Schedule 16, omit paragraph 27 and the italic heading before it.
 
 
(2)
Schedule A1 to the Children Act 1989 is amended as follows—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 3A (meaning of “unpaid work requirement”: enforcement
 
 
order)—
20
 
(i)
in sub-paragraph (1)(b), omit “, during a period of 12 months,”;
 
 
(ii)
in sub-paragraph (2), for “paragraphs 7 and 9” substitute
 
 
“paragraph 9”;
 
 
(iii)
omit sub-paragraph (3);
 
 
(b)
omit paragraph 7 and the italic heading before it;
25
 
(c)
in paragraph 9 (breach of an enforcement order), in sub-paragraph (9)
 
 
omit paragraph (b).
 
 
(3)
The amendments made by subsections (1) and (2) apply in relation to a
 
 
community order, suspended sentence order or, as the case may be, an
 
 
enforcement order whenever made.
30
 
(4)
In paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 19A to the Criminal Justice Act 2003
 
 
(modification of Sentencing Code in its application to supervision default
 
 
orders), for sub-paragraph (b), substitute—
 
 
“(b)
as if, in paragraph (b), after “the times” there were inserted “,
 
 
before the end of the supervision period,”.”
35
 
(5)
If section 31 (repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence)
 
 
comes into force before the coming into force of subsection (4) , the reference
 
 
in that subsection to Schedule 19A to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is a
 
 
reference to that Schedule as it continues to have effect despite its repeal.
 

Page 61

 
(6)
In consequence of the amendments made by subsection (2) , in paragraph 112
 
 
of Schedule 24 to the Sentencing Act 2020—
 
 
(a)
omit sub-paragraph (4);
 
 
(b)
in sub-paragraph (6), omit paragraph (b).
 
34
Number of hours of work required by unpaid work requirement
5
 
(1)
Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Sentencing Code (community orders and suspended
 
 
sentence orders: unpaid work requirement) is amended in accordance with
 
 
subsections (2) and (3) .
 
 
(2)
In paragraph 2 (number of hours of unpaid work)—
 
 
(a)
for sub-paragraph (1) substitute—
10
 
“(1)
A relevant order imposing an unpaid work requirement
 
 
must specify the number of hours that the offender may be
 
 
required to work under the requirement subject to any
 
 
reduction under paragraph 3A .
 
 
(1A)
The number of hours which may be specified in the order
15
 
must, in aggregate, be—
 
 
(a)
not less than 40, and
 
 
(b)
not more than 300.”;
 
 
(b)
in sub-paragraph (2), for “(1)(b)(i)” substitute “ (1A) (a) ”;
 
 
(c)
in sub-paragraph (4), in the final sentence, for “(1)(b)(ii)” substitute
20
 
“ (1A) (b) ”.
 
 
(3)
After paragraph 3 insert—
 
 
“Reduction in number of hours of work required by unpaid work requirement
 
 
3A
(1)
This paragraph applies where—
 
 
(a)
a relevant order is in force,
25
 
(b)
the order includes an unpaid work requirement,
 
 
(c)
the offender has performed the qualifying amount of work
 
 
in relation to the requirement,
 
 
(d)
the responsible officer is of the view that the offender did
 
 
not, during the period starting when the order was made
30
 
and ending when the offender had first performed the
 
 
qualifying amount of work (“the relevant period”), at any
 
 
time fail without reasonable excuse to attend for work as
 
 
required by the officer’s instructions, and
 
 
(e)
during the relevant period the responsible officer did not at
35
 
any time ask the offender to leave a place of work on the
 
 
grounds that the offender was not performing work as
 
 
required by the officer’s instructions.
 
 
(2)
For the purposes of this paragraph “the qualifying amount of work”,
 
 
in relation to an unpaid work requirement, is 25 per cent of the
40
 
number of hours of work specified in the relevant order (including
 
 
a fraction of an hour where necessary).
 

Page 62

 
(3)
Where this paragraph applies, the number of hours that the offender
 
 
may be required to work under the requirement is reduced by half
 
 
an hour for every credit earning hour worked.
 
 
(4)
For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) , the offender works a credit
 
 
earning hour where the offender performs a whole hour of work
5
 
under the requirement at any time after the offender has performed
 
 
the qualifying amount of work in relation to the requirement.
 
 
(5)
But if—
 
 
(a)
the responsible officer is of the view that the offender fails
 
 
without reasonable excuse to attend for work as required
10
 
by the officer’s instructions, or
 
 
(b)
the responsible officer asks the offender to leave a place of
 
 
work on the grounds that the offender is not performing
 
 
work as required by the officer’s instructions,
 
 
any work performed by the offender at any time after that failure
15
 
to attend or request to leave is not to count as all or part of a credit
 
 
earning hour.
 
 
(6)
Where a relevant order is amended under paragraph 10(5)(b) or
 
 
11(2)(b) of Schedule 10, or under paragraph 13(1)(d)(i) of Schedule
 
 
16, so as to require the offender to perform additional hours of
20
 
unpaid work—
 
 
(a)
the requirement to perform those additional hours is to be
 
 
treated, for the purposes of this paragraph, as imposed under
 
 
an additional unpaid work requirement that is separate from
 
 
any unpaid work requirement included in the order before
25
 
its amendment, and
 
 
(b)
sub-paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to that
 
 
additional unpaid work requirement.
 
 
(7)
The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this paragraph so
 
 
as to—
30
 
(a)
vary the percentage for the time being specified in
 
 
sub-paragraph (2) ;
 
 
(b)
vary the amount for the time being specified in
 
 
sub-paragraph (3) as the amount by which the number of
 
 
hours required to be worked is reduced for each hour
35
 
worked by the offender;
 
 
(c)
omit sub-paragraph (1) (d) or (e) or (5) ;
 
 
(d)
provide for restrictions, conditions or exclusions in relation
 
 
to the application of the paragraph or the reduction in hours
 
 
required to be worked that results from its application;
40
 
(e)
vary or remove any restrictions, conditions or exclusions
 
 
provided for by virtue of paragraph (d) .
 
 
(8)
Regulations under sub-paragraph (7) —
 
 
(a)
may make consequential amendments (including
 
 
amendments of primary legislation);
45

Page 63

 
(b)
are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.”
 
 
(4)
In consequence of the amendments made by subsections (1) to (3) , the
 
 
Sentencing Code is amended as follows—
 
 
(a)
in section 220(3) (when a community order ceases to be in force), at
 
 
the end insert “, subject to any reduction under paragraph 3A of
5
 
Schedule 9”;
 
 
(b)
in section 288(5)(a) (supervision period of suspended sentence order),
 
 
for “under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 9” substitute “, subject to any
 
 
reduction under paragraph 3A of Schedule 9”;
 
 
(c)
in paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 10 (imposition of more onerous
10
 
requirements on breach of order), in the words after paragraph (b),
 
 
for “for” to “paragraph 2(1)” substitute “which may be specified in
 
 
the order (see paragraph 2 (1A) ”.
 
 
(5)
In Schedule 19A to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (supervision default orders:
 
 
application and modification of provisions relating to community orders)—
15
 
(a)
in paragraph 2(f), after “2(1)” insert “and (1A) ”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph 3—
 
 
(i)
after sub-paragraph (3) insert—
 
 
“(3A)
Section 220(3) applies as if the words “, subject to
 
 
any reduction under paragraph 3A of Schedule 9”
20
 
were omitted.”;
 
 
(ii)
for sub-paragraph (5) substitute—
 
 
“(5)
Paragraph 2(1) of that Schedule applies as if the
 
 
words “subject to any reduction under paragraph
 
 
3A ” were omitted.
25
 
(5A)
Paragraph 2 (1A) of that Schedule applies as if for
 
 
paragraphs (a) and (b) (limit on number of hours of
 
 
unpaid work) there were substituted—
 
 
“(a)
not less than 20 hours, and
 
 
(b)
not more than 60 hours.”;
30
 
(c)
in paragraph 10(2)(b), for “2(1)” substitute “2 (1A) ”.
 
 
(6)
If section 31 (repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence)
 
 
comes into force before the coming into force of subsection (5) , the reference
 
 
in that subsection to Schedule 19A to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is a
 
 
reference to that Schedule as it continues to have effect despite its repeal.
35
 
(7)
In Schedule 31 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (default orders: modification
 
 
of provisions relating to community orders)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 2 (unpaid work requirement)—
 
 
(i)
after sub-paragraph (1), insert—
 
 
“(1A)
In sub-paragraph (1), the words “subject to any
40
 
reduction under paragraph 3A ” are omitted.”;
 

Page 64

 
(ii)
in sub-paragraph (2), for the words before the Table in that
 
 
sub-paragraph substitute “In sub-paragraph (1A) , for
 
 
paragraphs (a) and (b) there is substituted—
 
 
“(a)
not less than 20 hours, and
 
 
(b)
in the case of an amount in default which is
5
 
specified in the first column of the following
 
 
Table, not more than the number of hours set
 
 
out opposite that amount in the second
 
 
column.””;
 
 
(b)
after paragraph 2 insert—
10
 
“2A
In its application to a default order, Schedule 9 to the
 
 
Sentencing Code has effect as if paragraph 3A (reduction in
 
 
number of hours of work required by unpaid work
 
 
requirement) were omitted.”
 
 
(8)
The amendments made by this section apply in relation to a community order,
15
 
suspended sentence order, supervision default order or default order whenever
 
 
made.
 
35
Unpaid work requirement: publication of name and photograph of offender
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4) .
 
 
(2)
In Part 1 of Schedule 9 (community orders and suspended sentence orders:
20
 
unpaid work requirements), after paragraph 3A (as inserted by section 34 of
 
 
this Act) insert—
 
 
“Power to take photograph of offender
 
 
3B
(1)
This paragraph applies where—
 
 
(a)
a relevant order is in force,
25
 
(b)
the order includes an unpaid work requirement, and
 
 
(c)
the order was made, or the requirement was included, on
 
 
or after the day on which section 35 of the Sentencing Act
 
 
2025 comes into force.
 
 
(2)
But this paragraph does not apply in such cases as may be
30
 
prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
 
 
(3)
The responsible officer may give the offender a notice under this
 
 
paragraph, the effect of which is that—
 
 
(a)
an officer of a provider of probation services may take a
 
 
photograph of the offender (with or without the consent of
35
 
the offender), and
 
 
(b)
the offender must comply with any instructions given by an
 
 
officer of a provider of probation services for the purpose
 
 
of taking a photograph under paragraph (a) .
 
 
(4)
The instructions that may be given under sub-paragraph (3) (b)
40
 
include, in particular, an instruction to remove any item or substance
 

Page 65

 
worn on or over the whole or any part of the head or face of the
 
 
offender.
 
 
(5)
The obligation in sub-paragraph (3) (b) is enforceable—
 
 
(a)
where the relevant order is a community order, as if it were
 
 
a community order requirement of that order;
5
 
(b)
where the relevant order is a suspended sentence order, as
 
 
if it were a community requirement of that order.
 
 
(6)
The responsible officer may withdraw a notice given under this
 
 
paragraph (and such a notice ceases to have effect on being
 
 
withdrawn).
10
 
(7)
This paragraph ceases to apply (and any notice given under it ceases
 
 
to have effect)—
 
 
(a)
where the relevant order is a community order, when the
 
 
order ceases to be in force;
 
 
(b)
where the relevant order is a suspended sentence order, at
15
 
the end of the supervision period.
 
 
(8)
Regulations under sub-paragraph (2) may prescribe cases by
 
 
reference to, among other things, the opinion of the responsible
 
 
officer.
 
 
(9)
Regulations under sub-paragraph (2) are subject to the negative
20
 
resolution procedure.
 
 
Publication of photograph of offender etc
 
 
3C
(1)
Where a notice under paragraph 3B has effect in relation to an
 
 
offender, a provider of probation services may publish—
 
 
(a)
any photograph of the offender taken pursuant to the notice,
25
 
(b)
the name of the offender, and
 
 
(c)
the fact that the offender is subject to an unpaid work
 
 
requirement.
 
 
(2)
A photograph taken pursuant to such a notice—
 
 
(a)
may be used by, or disclosed to, any person for any of the
30
 
probation purposes (within the meaning of section 1 (1) of
 
 
the Offender Management Act 2007 ), and
 
 
(b)
after being so used or disclosed, may be retained but may
 
 
not be used or disclosed except for such a purpose.”
 
 
(3)
In Schedule 11 (transfer of community orders to Scotland or Northern
35
 
Ireland)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 6 (modification of requirements: Scotland), in
 
 
sub-paragraph (b), before paragraph (i) insert—
 
 
“(ai)
paragraphs 3B and 3C (power to take and
 
 
publish photograph of offender subject to unpaid
40
 
work requirement);”;
 

Page 66

 
(b)
in paragraph 13 (modification of requirements: Northern Ireland), in
 
 
sub-paragraph (b), before paragraph (i) insert—
 
 
“(ai)
paragraphs 3B and 3C (power to take and
 
 
publish photograph of offender subject to unpaid
 
 
work requirement);”.
5
 
(4)
In Schedule 17 (transfer of suspended sentence orders to Scotland or Northern
 
 
Ireland)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 10 (making of orders: modification of requirements), in
 
 
sub-paragraph (b), before paragraph (i) insert—
 
 
“(ai)
paragraphs 3B and 3C (power to take and
10
 
publish photograph of offender subject to unpaid
 
 
work requirement);”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph 16 (provisions where SSSO or NISSO is in force:
 
 
modification of requirements), in sub-paragraph (b), before paragraph
 
 
(i) insert—
15
 
“(ai)
paragraphs 3B and 3C (power to take and
 
 
publish photograph of offender subject to unpaid
 
 
work requirement);”.
 
 
(5)
In Schedule 31 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (default orders: modification
 
 
of provisions relating to community orders), after paragraph 2A (as inserted
20
 
by section 34 of this Act) insert—
 
 
“2B
In its application to a default order, Schedule 9 to the Sentencing
 
 
Code has effect as if paragraphs 3B and 3C (power to take and
 
 
publish photograph of offender subject to unpaid work requirement)
 
 
were omitted.”
25
 
(6)
In section 183 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (overseas community orders:
 
 
modifications of the Sentencing Code)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (1), for “(5)” substitute “ (5A) ”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (5) insert—
 
 
“(5A)
Schedule 9 has effect as if, in paragraph 3B (3) (a) and (b) , after
30
 
“services” there were inserted “or another person determined
 
 
by the responsible officer”.”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (6), after “Schedule 6” insert “of this Act”.
 
36
Termination of community order
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
35
 
(2)
In the italic heading before section 218, after “revocation” insert “, termination”.
 
 
(3)
In section 218—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, after “revocation” insert “, termination”;
 
 
(b)
after paragraph (b) insert—
 
 
“(ba)
termination of community orders;”.
40

Page 67

 
(4)
In section 220(2) (when a community order ceases to be in force)—
 
 
(a)
the words “when it is revoked” become paragraph (a), and
 
 
(b)
at the end of that paragraph insert “, or
 
 
“(b)
when it terminates under Part 3A of Schedule 10.”
 
 
(5)
In Schedule 10 (breach, revocation or amendment of community order)—
5
 
(a)
in the heading, after “revocation” insert “, termination”;
 
 
(b)
after Part 3 insert—
 

Part 3A

 
 
Termination of order
 
 
15A
(1)
This paragraph applies if—
10
 
(a)
a community order is in force,
 
 
(b)
the order does not contain provision for review
 
 
within the meaning of section 217A (review of
 
 
community order qualifying for special procedures),
 
 
(c)
in a case where the order imposes a probation
15
 
requirement, the responsible officer does not consider
 
 
that it is necessary to give any further instructions
 
 
to the offender pursuant to that requirement,
 
 
(d)
in a case where the order imposes one or more other
 
 
community order requirements listed in section 201
20
 
(whether or not it also imposes a probation
 
 
requirement), the offender has complied with each
 
 
of those other requirements, and
 
 
(e)
in a case where a sentence plan has been prepared
 
 
for the offender, the responsible officer—
25
 
(i)
considers that the offender has met the
 
 
objectives set out in the plan, and
 
 
(ii)
does not consider that it is necessary to add
 
 
to those objectives.
 
 
(2)
The community order terminates on the date specified by
30
 
the responsible officer to the offender.
 
 
(3)
In this paragraph “sentence plan”, in relation to an offender
 
 
to whom a community order relates, means a plan prepared
 
 
by the responsible officer which sets out—
 
 
(a)
the community order requirements imposed by the
35
 
order,
 
 
(b)
any objectives to be met by the offender for the
 
 
purposes of the order, and
 
 
(c)
how the offender—
 
 
(i)
will comply with those requirements, and
40
 
(ii)
will meet any such objectives.
 

Page 68

 
(4)
If section 36 of the Sentencing Act 2025 (which inserted this
 
 
paragraph) comes into force before section 12 of that Act,
 
 
the references in sub-paragraph (1) to a probation
 
 
requirement are to be read, until that section comes into
 
 
force, as references to a rehabilitation activity requirement.”
5
 
(6)
The amendments made by this section apply to a community order whenever
 
 
made.
 
37
Termination of supervision period of suspended sentence order
 
 
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 288 (operational period and supervision period), after subsection
10
 
(5) insert—
 
 
“(6)
For provision about the termination of the supervision period, see
 
 
paragraph 22A of Schedule 16.”
 
 
(3)
In section 303 (introduction of Schedule 16), after paragraph (a) (but before
 
 
the “and” at the end of that paragraph) insert—
15
 
“(aa)
termination of the supervision period of a suspended sentence
 
 
order,”.
 
 
(4)
In section 305 (suspended sentences: interpretation), in the definition of the
 
 
“the supervision period”, in the words after paragraph (c), after “requirement)”
 
 
insert “and paragraph 22A of Schedule 16 (termination of supervision period)”.
20
 
(5)
In Part 3 of Schedule 16 (amendment of suspended sentence order), after
 
 
paragraph 22 insert—
 
 
“Termination of supervision period
 
 
22A
(1)
This paragraph applies if—
 
 
(a)
the suspended sentence order does not contain provision for
25
 
review within the meaning of section 293A (review of
 
 
suspended sentence order qualifying for special procedures),
 
 
(b)
in a case where the order imposes a probation requirement,
 
 
the responsible officer does not consider that it is necessary
 
 
to give any further instructions to the offender pursuant to
30
 
that requirement,
 
 
(c)
in a case where the order imposes one or more other
 
 
community requirements listed in section 287 (whether or
 
 
not it also imposes a probation requirement), the offender
 
 
has complied with each of those other requirements, and
35
 
(d)
in a case where a sentence plan has been prepared for the
 
 
offender, the responsible officer—
 
 
(i)
considers that the offender has met the objectives set
 
 
out in the plan, and
 
 
(ii)
does not consider that it is necessary to add to those
40
 
objectives.
 

Page 69

 
(2)
The supervision period terminates on the date specified by the
 
 
responsible officer to the offender.
 
 
(3)
In this paragraph “sentence plan”, in relation to an offender to whom
 
 
a suspended sentence order relates, means a plan prepared by the
 
 
responsible officer which sets out—
5
 
(a)
the community requirements imposed by the order,
 
 
(b)
any objectives to be met by the offender for the purposes of
 
 
the order, and
 
 
(c)
how the offender—
 
 
(i)
will comply with those requirements, and
10
 
(ii)
will meet any such objectives.
 
 
(4)
If section 37 of the Sentencing Act 2025 (which inserted this
 
 
paragraph) comes into force before section 12 of that Act, the
 
 
references in sub-paragraph (1) to a probation requirement are to
 
 
be read, until that section comes into force, as references to a
15
 
rehabilitation activity requirement.”
 
 
(6)
In paragraph 25 of Schedule 17 (modifications of Part 3 of Schedule 16 to the
 
 
Code in relation to an SSSO or NISSO), after paragraph (d) insert—
 
 
“(da)
paragraph 22A (termination of supervision period) were
 
 
omitted;”.
20
 
(7)
The amendments made by this section apply to a suspended sentence order
 
 
whenever made.
 

Parole Board rules

 
38
Rules about the proceedings of the Parole Board
 
 
Omit section 73(2) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (rules about the
25
 
proceedings of the Parole Board).
 

Repatriated prisoners

 
39
Application of provisions about release etc to certain repatriated prisoners
 
 
(1)
In the Schedule to the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (operation of certain
 
 
enactments in relation to transferred prisoners), after paragraph 2A insert—
30
 
“Application of release provisions to prisoner serving fixed-term sentence for murder
 
 
2B
(1)
This paragraph applies to a prisoner if—
 
 
(a)
the prisoner has been transferred to England and Wales in
 
 
pursuance of a warrant under section 1,
 
 
(b)
the prisoner is serving a sentence for an offence which
35
 
corresponds to murder under the law of England and Wales,
 
 
and
 

Page 70

 
(c)
by virtue of that sentence the prisoner is a fixed-term
 
 
prisoner for the purposes of Chapter 6 of Part 12 of the
 
 
Criminal Justice Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”).
 
 
(2)
If, apart from this sub-paragraph, section 243A of the 2003 Act (duty
 
 
to release certain prisoners serving less than 12 months) would
5
 
apply to the prisoner, Chapter 6 of Part 12 of that Act and the
 
 
following provisions of this paragraph have effect in relation to the
 
 
prisoner as if section 244 of that Act applied to the prisoner.
 
 
(3)
If section 244 of the 2003 Act (duty to release prisoners not subject
 
 
to special provision for release) applies to the prisoner, Chapter 6
10
 
of Part 12 of that Act has effect in relation to the prisoner as if the
 
 
requisite custodial period for the purposes of that section were—
 
 
(a)
where the prisoner is serving one sentence, two-thirds of the
 
 
sentence, and
 
 
(b)
where the prisoner is serving two or more concurrent or
15
 
consecutive sentences, the period determined under section
 
 
263(2) and 264(2B) or (2E) of the 2003 Act.
 
 
(4)
If, apart from this sub-paragraph, the prisoner could be released on
 
 
licence under section 246 of the 2003 Act, the prisoner must not be
 
 
released under that section.
20
 
(5)
If—
 
 
(a)
the prisoner is recalled to prison under section 254 of the
 
 
2003 Act, and
 
 
(b)
apart from this sub-paragraph, section 255B or 255BA of that
 
 
Act (automatic release) would apply to the prisoner following
25
 
the prisoner’s recall,
 
 
section 255C of that Act (prisoners excluded from automatic release)
 
 
applies to the prisoner instead.
 
 
(6)
Section 256AZBA of the 2003 Act (referral of release decisions to
 
 
High Court) has effect in relation to the prisoner as if the offence
30
 
mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) (b) of this paragraph were specified
 
 
in section 256AZBB(1) of that Act (specified offences for the purposes
 
 
of section 256AZBA).
 
 
(7)
If section 264 of the 2003 Act (consecutive terms) applies to the
 
 
prisoner, that section has effect in relation to the prisoner as if the
35
 
minimum custodial period in relation to the prisoner’s sentence for
 
 
the offence mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) (b) of this paragraph
 
 
were two-thirds of the sentence.
 
 
(8)
Section 264B of the 2003 Act (consecutive terms: supplementary)
 
 
does not apply to the prisoner.”
40
 
(2)
In Schedule 20B to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (modifications of Chapter 6
 
 
of Part 12 in certain transitional cases), in paragraph 4(5)(c), omit “to murder
 
 
or”.
 

Page 71

 
(3)
The amendments made by this section, as well as applying to a prisoner who
 
 
is transferred into England and Wales on or after the day on which those
 
 
amendments come into force, apply to a prisoner who is transferred into
 
 
England and Wales before that day.
 
 
(4)
But if—
5
 
(a)
a prisoner is transferred into England and Wales before the day on
 
 
which the amendments made by this section come into force, and
 
 
(b)
the prisoner is released under Chapter 6 of Part 12 of the Criminal
 
 
Justice Act 2003 before that day,
 
 
those amendments do not apply to the prisoner unless the prisoner is recalled
10
 
to prison under section 254 or 255 of that Act on or after that day.
 

Certain life sentences

 
40
Certain life sentences: powers of High Court on referral
 
 
(1)
Section 32ZAC of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (powers of the High Court
 
 
on referral of release decision) is amended in accordance with subsections (2)
15
 
to (4) .
 
 
(2)
In subsection (1), after “section 32ZAA,” insert “and unless subsection (2B)
 
 
applies on the referral,”.
 
 
(3)
After subsection (2) insert—
 
 
“(2A)
Subsection (2B) applies on a referral of a prisoner’s case under section
20
 
32ZAA if, by virtue of section 31A(4F)(a), the Parole Board has directed
 
 
the Secretary of State to release the prisoner unconditionally.
 
 
(2B)
The High Court—
 
 
(a)
must, if satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection
 
 
of the public that the prisoner should be confined, make an
25
 
order requiring the Secretary of State to give effect to the Parole
 
 
Board’s direction to release the prisoner unconditionally;
 
 
(b)
otherwise, must make an order quashing the Parole Board’s
 
 
direction to release the prisoner unconditionally.”
 
 
(4)
In subsection (3), after “(1)(b)” insert “or (2B) (b) ”.
30
 
(5)
Section 32ZB of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (release at direction of Parole
 
 
Board: timing) is amended in accordance with subsections (6) and (7) .
 
 
(6)
In subsection (1), after “32ZAC(1)(a)” insert “or (2B) (a) ”.
 
 
(7)
In subsection (2), after “the need” insert “where the life prisoner is to be
 
 
released on licence”.
35
 
(8)
The amendments made by this section do not affect the duty of the Secretary
 
 
of State to release a prisoner whose release has been directed by the Parole
 
 
Board before this section comes into force.
 

Page 72

Part 3

 

Bail

 
41
Amendments to Bail Act 1976
 
 
(1)
The Bail Act 1976 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 2 (definitions), in subsection (2), after the definition of “surrender
5
 
to custody” insert—
 
 
““suspended sentence” has the meaning given by section 286 of the
 
 
Sentencing Code,”.
 
 
(3)
In section 3 (general provisions), in subsection (6ZAA), after “extradition
 
 
proceedings)” insert “, section 3AAB (in the case of certain adults granted
10
 
bail where there is a real prospect of a suspended sentence)”.
 
 
(4)
After section 3AAA insert—
 
 
“3AAB
Conditions for the imposition of electronic monitoring requirements:
 
 
certain adults released on bail where real prospect of suspended
 
 
sentence
15
 
(1)
This section applies to a person who has attained the age of 18 and
 
 
is released on bail in non-extradition proceedings if it appears to the
 
 
court that—
 
 
(a)
there is no real prospect that the person will be sentenced in
 
 
the proceedings to a custodial sentence, other than a suspended
20
 
sentence, and
 
 
(b)
there is a real prospect that the person will be sentenced in the
 
 
proceedings to a suspended sentence.
 
 
(2)
Where the person is accused or convicted in the proceedings of one
 
 
or more indictable offences or offences triable either way a court may
25
 
not impose electronic monitoring requirements on the person unless—
 
 
(a)
the condition in subsection (4) or (8) is met, and
 
 
(b)
the condition in subsection (9) is met.
 
 
(3)
Where the person is accused or convicted in the proceedings of one
 
 
or more offences each of which is a summary offence a court may not
30
 
impose electronic monitoring requirements on the person unless—
 
 
(a)
the condition in subsection (5) , (6) , (7) or (8) is met, and
 
 
(b)
the condition in subsection (9) is met.
 
 
(4)
The condition in this subsection is that the court is satisfied that there
 
 
are substantial grounds for believing that without the electronic
35
 
monitoring requirements the person would—
 
 
(a)
fail to surrender to custody,
 
 
(b)
commit an offence while on bail, or
 
 
(c)
interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of
 
 
justice in relation to the person or any other person.
40

Page 73

 
(5)
The condition in this subsection is that—
 
 
(a)
it appears to the court that, having previously been granted
 
 
bail in criminal proceedings, the person has failed to surrender
 
 
to custody in accordance with the person’s obligations under
 
 
the grant of bail, and
5
 
(b)
the court believes that without the electronic monitoring
 
 
requirements the person would fail to surrender to custody.
 
 
(6)
The condition in this subsection is that—
 
 
(a)
it appears to the court that the person was on bail in criminal
 
 
proceedings on the date of the offence or one of the offences
10
 
of which the person is accused or convicted in the proceedings,
 
 
and
 
 
(b)
the court is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for
 
 
believing that without the electronic monitoring requirements
 
 
the person would commit an offence while on bail.
15
 
(7)
The condition in this subsection is that—
 
 
(a)
having been released on bail in or in connection with the
 
 
proceedings, the person has been arrested in pursuance of
 
 
section 7, and
 
 
(b)
the court is satisfied that without the electronic monitoring
20
 
requirements there are substantial grounds for believing that
 
 
the person would—
 
 
(i)
fail to surrender to custody,
 
 
(ii)
commit an offence while on bail, or
 
 
(iii)
interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course
25
 
of justice in relation to the person or another person.
 
 
(8)
The condition in this subsection is that the court is satisfied that
 
 
without the electronic monitoring requirements the person would not
 
 
be granted bail.
 
 
(9)
The condition in this subsection is that the court is satisfied that the
30
 
necessary provision for dealing with the person concerned can be
 
 
made under arrangements for the electronic monitoring of persons
 
 
released on bail that are currently available in each local justice area
 
 
which is a relevant area.
 
 
(10)
An offence mentioned in Schedule 2 to the Magistrates’ Courts Act
35
 
1980 (offences for which the value involved is relevant to the mode
 
 
of trial) in relation to which—
 
 
(a)
a determination has been made under section 22(2) of that Act
 
 
(certain either way offences to be tried summarily if value
 
 
involved is less than relevant sum) that it is clear that the value
40
 
does not exceed the relevant sum for the purposes of that
 
 
section, or
 
 
(b)
a determination has been made under section 9A(4) of this Act
 
 
to the same effect,
 

Page 74

 
is, for the purposes of this section, to be regarded as a summary
 
 
offence.”
 
 
(5)
In section 3AB (conditions for imposition of electronic monitoring requirements
 
 
in relation to other persons), in subsection (1), after “eighteen” insert “and in
 
 
relation to whom section 3AAB does not apply”.
5
 
(6)
In section 3AC (electronic monitoring: general provisions), in subsections (7)
 
 
and (8), after “3AAA” insert “, 3AAB ”.
 
 
(7)
Schedule 1 (exceptions to general right to bail) is amended as follows.
 
 
(8)
In Part 1—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 1A(1)—
10
 
(i)
at the end of paragraph (a) insert “and”;
 
 
(ii)
omit paragraph (b) and the “and” at the end of that paragraph;
 
 
(iii)
in paragraph (c), after “custodial sentence” insert “, other than
 
 
a suspended sentence,”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph 9, after paragraph (b) insert—
15
 
“(ba)
the fact (where it is the case) that the defendant—
 
 
(i)
is pregnant,
 
 
(ii)
is the primary carer for another person, or
 
 
(iii)
has been the victim of an offence which involved
 
 
behaviour by the offender amounting to
20
 
domestic abuse within the meaning given by
 
 
section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021,”.
 
 
(9)
In Part 1A, in paragraph 1A(1)—
 
 
(a)
at the end of paragraph (a) insert “and”;
 
 
(b)
omit paragraph (b) and the “and” at the end of that paragraph;
25
 
(c)
in paragraph (c), after “custodial sentence” insert “, other than a
 
 
suspended sentence,”.
 

Part 4

 

Foreign criminals

 
42
Deportation of foreign criminals
30
 
(1)
In section 38(1) of the UK Borders Act 2007 (meaning of “period of
 
 
imprisonment” for purposes of condition 1 in definition of “foreign criminal”),
 
 
omit paragraph (a).
 
 
(2)
In section 117D(4) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
 
 
(meaning of “period of imprisonment” for purposes of definition of “foreign
35
 
criminal”), omit paragraph (a).
 

Page 75

Part 5

 

General

 
43
Power to make consequential provision
 
 
(1)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision that is consequential
 
 
on this Act.
5
 
(2)
Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, amend, repeal or revoke
 
 
any enactment passed or made before, or in the same Session as, this Act.
 
 
(3)
In subsection (2) “enactment” includes—
 
 
(a)
an enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning
 
 
of the Interpretation Act 1978;
10
 
(b)
an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act
 
 
of the Scottish Parliament;
 
 
(c)
an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure
 
 
or Act of Senedd Cymru;
 
 
(d)
an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, Northern
15
 
Ireland legislation.
 
 
(4)
The power to make regulations under subsection (1) includes power to make—
 
 
(a)
supplementary, incidental, transitional or saving provision;
 
 
(b)
different provision for different purposes or areas.
 
 
(5)
Regulations under subsection (1) are to be made by statutory instrument.
20
 
(6)
A statutory instrument containing (whether alone or with other provision)
 
 
regulations under subsection (1) which amend, repeal or revoke primary
 
 
legislation may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid
 
 
before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
 
 
(7)
Any other statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1)
25
 
is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of
 
 
Parliament.
 
 
(8)
In this section “primary legislation” means—
 
 
(a)
an Act of Parliament,
 
 
(b)
an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
30
 
(c)
a Measure or Act of Senedd Cymru, or
 
 
(d)
Northern Ireland legislation.
 
 
44
Power to state effect in Sentencing Act 2020 of commencement of amendments
 

made by this Act

 
 
The power in section 419(1) of the Sentencing Act 2020 (power to state effect
35
 
of commencement provisions) applies in relation to any amendment or repeal
 
 
made by or under this Act of that Act as it applies in relation to an
 
 
amendment or repeal made by Schedule 22 to that Act.
 

Page 76

45
Extent
 
 
(1)
An amendment, repeal or revocation made by this Act has the same extent
 
 
within the United Kingdom as the provision amended, repealed or revoked,
 
 
subject to subsection (2) (a) .
 
 
(2)
The following provisions of this Act extend to England and Wales, Scotland
5
 
and Northern Ireland—
 
 
(a)
section 17 ;
 
 
(b)
section 31 (4) and (5) ;
 
 
(c)
section 37 (7) ;
 
 
(d)
this Part.
10
 
(3)
The other provisions of this Act extend to England and Wales only.
 
 
(4)
Nothing in subsections (1) to (3) limits the extent within the United Kingdom
 
 
of any provision made, or inserted, by or under this Act so far as it is applied
 
 
(by whatever words) by or under the Armed Forces Act 2006.
 
 
(5)
Subsections (1) and (2) of section 384 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (extent
15
 
outside the United Kingdom) apply to the armed forces provisions as those
 
 
subsections apply to the provisions of that Act.
 
 
(6)
The following are “armed forces provisions”—
 
 
(a)
a provision made, or inserted, by or under this Act so far as it is
 
 
applied (by whatever words) by or under the Armed Forces Act 2006;
20
 
(b)
an amendment, modification or repeal made by or under this Act of—
 
 
(i)
a provision of or made under the Armed Forces Act 2006,
 
 
(ii)
a provision that amends, modifies or repeals a provision of, or
 
 
made under, that Act, or
 
 
(iii)
any other provision, so far as the provision is applied (by
25
 
whatever words) by or under that Act.
 
46
Commencement
 
 
(1)
Subject to subsections (3) and (4) , this Act comes into force on such day as
 
 
the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint.
 
 
(2)
Different days may be appointed for different purposes or areas.
30
 
(3)
The following provisions come into force on the day on which this Act is
 
 
passed—
 
 
(a)
sections 22 and 25 ;
 
 
(b)
this Part;
 
 
(c)
any other provision of this Act (including provision modifying other
35
 
legislation) so far as it confers power to make regulations or an order
 
 
or is otherwise necessary for enabling the exercise of such a power
 
 
on or after the day on which this Act is passed.
 

Page 77

 
(4)
Sections 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 to 9 , 18 , 19 and 38 to 40 and Schedules 1 and 2 come into
 
 
force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which
 
 
this Act is passed.
 
 
(5)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make transitional or saving provision
 
 
in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.
5
 
(6)
The power to make regulations under subsection (5) includes power to make
 
 
different provision for different purposes or areas.
 
 
(7)
Regulations under this section are to be made by statutory instrument.
 
47
Short title
 
 
This Act may be cited as the Sentencing Act 2025.
10

Page 78

Schedules

 
 
Schedule 1
Section 1 (4)
 

Presumption of suspended sentence order: consequential provision

 

Firearms Act 1968

 
 
1
In section 21(2C)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 (ban on possession of firearm
5
 
by person subject to suspended sentence), after “section 264 or 277 of the
 
 
Sentencing Code” insert “(including by virtue of section 264A or 277A of
 
 
that Code)”.
 

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

 
 
2
In section 38(4)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (provisions about
10
 
imprisonment or detention: disregard of suspended sentence orders), after
 
 
“section 264 or 277 of the Sentencing Code” insert “(including by virtue of
 
 
section 264A or 277A of that Code)”.
 

Armed Forces Act 2006

 
 
3
(1)
The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended as follows.
15
 
(2)
In section 200(1) (application of provisions in the Sentencing Code about
 
 
suspended sentence orders)—
 
 
(a)
after paragraph (a) insert—
 
 
“(aa)
section 264A (presumption of suspended sentence
 
 
order: offender under 21);”;
20
 
(b)
after paragraph (b) insert—
 
 
“(ba)
section 277A (presumption of suspended sentence
 
 
order: person aged 21 or over);”.
 
 
(3)
Before section 200A insert—
 
“200ZB
Modifications of sections
25
 
(1)
Section 264A of the Sentencing Code (presumption of suspended
 
 
sentence order: offender under 21) has effect in relation to a
 
 
suspended sentence order made by a relevant service court as if—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (3) , after paragraph (d) there were inserted—
 
 
“(da)
the offender is deemed to have served the
30
 
whole custodial period of the sentence for the
 
 
offence (or in the case of two or more
 
 
sentences imposed on the same occasion
 
 
where those sentences are to be served
 

Page 79

 
consecutively, the aggregate of the custodial
 
 
periods for each offence) by virtue of section
 
 
246 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (crediting
 
 
of time in service custody: terms of
 
 
imprisonment and detention),”,
5
 
(b)
in subsection (5) , the reference to section 30 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to section 256 of this Act, and
 
 
(c)
in subsection (7) , before the definition of “order of a court”
 
 
there were inserted—
 
 
““custodial period” means the period of a custodial
10
 
sentence (within the meaning of the Armed Forces
 
 
Act 2006: see section 374 of that Act) which the
 
 
offender is required to serve in custody;”.
 
 
(2)
Section 277A of the Sentencing Code (presumption of suspended
 
 
sentence order: person aged 21 or over) has effect in relation to a
15
 
suspended sentence order made by a relevant service court as if—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (3) , after paragraph (d) there were inserted—
 
 
“(da)
the offender is deemed to have served the
 
 
whole custodial period of the sentence for the
 
 
offence (or in the case of two or more
20
 
sentences imposed on the same occasion
 
 
where those sentences are to be served
 
 
consecutively, the aggregate of the custodial
 
 
periods for each offence) by virtue of section
 
 
246 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (crediting
25
 
of time in service custody: terms of
 
 
imprisonment and detention),”,
 
 
(b)
in subsection (6) , the reference to section 30 of the Sentencing
 
 
Code were to section 256 of this Act, and
 
 
(c)
in subsection (8) , before the definition of “order of a court”
30
 
there were inserted—
 
 
““custodial period” means the period of a custodial
 
 
sentence (within the meaning of the Armed Forces
 
 
Act 2006: see section 374 of that Act) which the
 
 
offender is required to serve in custody;”.
35

Sentencing Act 2020

 
 
4
In Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act 2020 (amendments of the Sentencing
 
 
Code etc), after paragraph 54 insert—
 
 
“54A
In section 277A (presumption of suspended sentence order: person
 
 
aged 21 or over)—
40
 
(a)
in subsection (1) (a) , for “21” substitute “18”;
 

Page 80

 
(b)
in the heading, for “person aged 21 or over” substitute
 
 
“adults”.”
 
 
Schedule 2
Sections 8 (12) and 9 (6)
 

Sentence with fixed licence period in Scotland or Northern Ireland:

 

consequential provision

5

Part 1

 

Scotland

 

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

 
 
1
In section 5(1)(da) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as it forms
 
 
part of the law of Scotland (disclosure periods for particular sentences),
10
 
for “(terrorism sentence for young offenders or children)” substitute
 
 
“(sentence with fixed licence period for young offenders or children)”.
 

Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989

 
 
2
In section 39(7B)(a) of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 (rules for the
 
 
management of prisons and other institutions), after “terrorism” insert “or
15
 
national security-related”.
 

Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993

 
 
3
(1)
The Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 is amended
 
 
as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 1(9) (release of short-term, long-term and life prisoners)—
20
 
(a)
the words from “in respect of an offence” to the end of the
 
 
subsection become paragraph (a);
 
 
(b)
at the end of that paragraph insert “, or
 
 
“(b)
under section 205ZC of the 1995 Act in respect of an
 
 
offence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to that Act
25
 
(offences involving or connected with a threat to
 
 
national security).”
 
 
(3)
In section 1AB (restricted eligibility for release on licence of terrorist
 
 
prisoners)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, at the end insert “and other prisoners serving a
30
 
sentence imposed under section 205ZC of the 1995 Act”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (2A) insert—
 
 
“(2B)
This section also applies to a prisoner other than a life
 
 
prisoner who is serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed
 

Page 81

 
under section 205ZC of the 1995 Act in respect of an offence
 
 
listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to that Act (offences
 
 
involving or connected with a threat to national security).”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (3), for “case of a terrorist prisoner” substitute
 
 
“prisoner’s case”;
5
 
(d)
in subsections (4) and (5), omit “terrorist”.
 
 
(4)
In section 1B (prisoners serving consecutive sentences including at least
 
 
one terrorism sentence)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, after “terrorism” insert “or national security-related”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (1), for paragraph (b) (but not the “and” at the end of
10
 
that paragraph) substitute—
 
 
“(b)
one or more of the sentences (the “terrorism or
 
 
national security-related sentence”) was imposed—
 
 
(i)
in respect of an offence within section 1AB(2),
 
 
or
15
 
(ii)
under section 205ZC of the 1995 Act in respect
 
 
of an offence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB
 
 
to that Act (offences involving or connected
 
 
with a threat to national security),”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (2)—
20
 
(i)
after “terrorism”, in both places it occurs, insert “or national
 
 
security-related”;
 
 
(ii)
for “imposed in respect of an offence that is not within
 
 
section 1AB(2) (a “non-terrorism sentence”),” substitute “that
 
 
is not a terrorism or national security-related sentence,”;
25
 
(iii)
for “the non-terrorism” substitute “that other”;
 
 
(d)
in subsection (3)—
 
 
(i)
after “terrorism” insert “or national security-related”;
 
 
(ii)
for “non-terrorism” substitute “other”;
 
 
(e)
in subsections (4) to (7), (9), (10) and (13)—
30
 
(i)
after “terrorism”, in each place it occurs, insert “or national
 
 
security-related”;
 
 
(ii)
for “non-terrorism”, in each place it occurs, substitute
 
 
“sentence that is not a terrorism or national security-related”.
 
 
(5)
In section 2 (duty to release discretionary life prisoners)—
35
 
(a)
in subsection (6), after “(6B)” insert “, (6C) ”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (6B) insert—
 
 
“(6C)
No requirement may be made under subsection (6) by a life
 
 
prisoner who is also serving or liable to serve a sentence of
 
 
imprisonment imposed under section 205ZC of the 1995 Act
40
 
in respect of an offence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to
 
 
that Act (offences involving or connected with a threat to
 

Page 82

 
national security) before the day on which the Scottish
 
 
Ministers are required to refer the prisoner’s case to the
 
 
Parole Board under section 1AB(3).”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (7), after “(6B)” insert “or (6C) ”.
 
 
(6)
In section 3A (re-release of prisoners serving certain terrorism sentences
5
 
and extended sentences)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, for “certain terrorism sentences” substitute “serious
 
 
terrorism sentences, sentences with a fixed licence period”;
 
 
(b)
in subsection (1ZA)(b), omit “terrorism”.
 
 
(7)
In section 3C(6) (prisoners not to be released early by virtue of regulations
10
 
under section 3C)—
 
 
(a)
after paragraph (c) insert—
 
 
“(ca)
serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed under
 
 
section 205ZC of the 1995 Act in respect of an offence
 
 
listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to that Act (offences
15
 
involving or connected with a threat to national
 
 
security);”;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph (d), after “terrorism” insert “or national
 
 
security-related”.
 
 
(8)
In the italic cross heading before section 26ZA, after “terrorism” insert “and
20
 
national security-related”.
 
 
(9)
In section 26ZA (terrorism sentences)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, after “terrorism” insert “and national
 
 
security-related”;
 
 
(b)
for subsection (1) substitute—
25
 
“(1)
This section applies to a person (“the prisoner”) who—
 
 
(a)
is not a life prisoner, and
 
 
(b)
is serving a terrorism or national security-related
 
 
sentence.”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (2)—
30
 
(i)
in the words before paragraph (a), after “terrorism” insert
 
 
“or national security-related”;
 
 
(ii)
in paragraph (b), omit “terrorism”;
 
 
(d)
in subsection (3), after “terrorism”, in both places it occurs, insert
 
 
“or national security-related”;
35
 
(e)
in subsections (4) and (5), for “a terrorist” substitute “the”;
 
 
(f)
in subsection (7)—
 
 
(i)
for “a terrorist” substitute “the”;
 
 
(ii)
after “terrorism” insert “or national security-related”;
 
 
(g)
in subsection (8)(b), omit “terrorism”;
40
 
(h)
in subsection (9)—
 

Page 83

 
(i)
for “a terrorist” substitute “the”;
 
 
(ii)
after “terrorism” insert “or national security-related”;
 
 
(i)
in subsection (10), after “terrorism”, in both places it occurs, insert
 
 
“or national security-related”;
 
 
(j)
in subsection (11), in the definition of “appropriate custodial term”,
5
 
in the words before paragraph (a)—
 
 
(i)
after “terrorism” insert “or national security-related”;
 
 
(ii)
omit “terrorist”;
 
 
(k)
in subsection (11), in the definition of “extension period”, in
 
 
paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), omit “terrorist”.
10
 
(10)
In section 27 (interpretation of Part 1)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (5), for “subsection (5A)” substitute “subsections (5A)
 
 
and (5AA) ”;
 
 
(b)
after subsection (5A), insert—
 
 
“(5AA)
Nor does subsection (5) apply in relation to a sentence (a
15
 
“national security-related sentence”) imposed on a person
 
 
under section 205ZC of the 1995 Act in respect of an offence
 
 
listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to that Act (offences
 
 
involving or connected with a threat to national security).”;
 
 
(c)
in subsection (5B)—
20
 
(i)
for “an offence within section 1AB(2)”, in the first place it
 
 
appears, substitute “a sentence passed on a person in respect
 
 
of an offence within section 1AB(2) or a national
 
 
security-related sentence”;
 
 
(ii)
after “1AB(2)”, in the second place it appears, insert “or a
25
 
national security-related sentence”.
 

Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984

 
 
4
(1)
In the Schedule to the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984, paragraph 2
 
 
(application of early release provisions) as it applies in relation to prisoners
 
 
repatriated to Scotland is amended as follows.
30
 
(2)
After sub-paragraph (3D) insert—
 
 
“(3E)
If sub-paragraph (3F) , (3G) or (3H) applies by virtue of an offence
 
 
in relation to which a determinate sentence is to be served, Part
 
 
1 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993
 
 
applies to the prisoner as if the prisoner were serving a sentence
35
 
imposed under section 205ZC of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland)
 
 
Act 1995 in respect of an offence specified in Part 2 of Schedule
 
 
5ZB to that Act (sentence with a fixed licence period imposed in
 
 
respect of an offence involving or connected with a threat to
 
 
national security).
40

Page 84

 
(3F)
This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that the offence
 
 
or any of the offences in relation to which a sentence is to be
 
 
served corresponds to an offence specified in any of paragraphs
 
 
9 to 11 , or paragraph 13 in a case where the listed offence is an
 
 
offence specified in any of paragraphs 9 to 11 , of Part 2 of
5
 
Schedule 5ZB to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
 
 
(certain offences under the Official Secrets Acts or the National
 
 
Security Act 2023).
 
 
(3G)
This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that—
 
 
(a)
the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a
10
 
sentence is to be served (“the overseas offence”)
 
 
corresponds to an offence under the law of Scotland (“the
 
 
corresponding offence”),
 
 
(b)
the overseas offence was committed on or after the day
 
 
on which section 16 of the National Security Act 2023
15
 
came into force,
 
 
(c)
the corresponding offence—
 
 
(i)
is a “relevant electoral offence” within the meaning
 
 
of that section, and
 
 
(ii)
is punishable on indictment with imprisonment
20
 
for more than 2 years, and
 
 
(d)
findings made by the court before which the prisoner was
 
 
tried or sentenced for the overseas offence would, had the
 
 
prisoner been tried and sentenced in Scotland for the
 
 
corresponding offence, have justified a determination
25
 
under that section that the foreign power condition is met
 
 
in relation to the conduct that constitutes the offence.
 
 
(3H)
This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that—
 
 
(a)
the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a
 
 
sentence is to be served (“the overseas offence”)
30
 
corresponds to an offence under the law of Scotland (“the
 
 
corresponding offence”),
 
 
(b)
the overseas offence was committed on or after the day
 
 
on which section 21 of the National Security Act 2023
 
 
came into force,
35
 
(c)
the corresponding offence—
 
 
(i)
is not an offence mentioned in subsection (6) of
 
 
that section, and
 
 
(ii)
is punishable on indictment with imprisonment
 
 
for more than 2 years, and
40
 
(d)
findings made by the court before which the prisoner was
 
 
tried or sentenced for the overseas offence would, had the
 
 
prisoner been tried and sentenced in Scotland for the
 
 
corresponding offence, have justified a determination
 

Page 85

 
under that section that the foreign power condition is met
 
 
in relation to the conduct that constitutes the offence.
 
 
(3I)
The Scottish Ministers may amend a warrant (whether issued
 
 
before or after sub-paragraph (3E) comes into force and whether
 
 
or not the transfer it authorises has taken place) so as to specify
5
 
the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (3F) , (3G) or (3H) .”
 
 
(3)
In sub-paragraph (4), for “that Act” substitute “the Prisoners and Criminal
 
 
Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993”.
 

Part 2

 

Northern Ireland

10

Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

 
 
5
(1)
The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I 2008/1216 (N.I.1))
 
 
is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In Article 3(1) (interpretation of Part 2), in the definition of “Article 15A
 
 
terrorism sentence” omit “terrorism”.
15
 
(3)
In Article 8(1)(a) (setting of custodial period), for “Article 15A terrorism
 
 
sentence” substitute “Article 15A sentence”.
 
 
(4)
In the heading of Chapter 3 of Part 2, for “other terrorist” substitute “certain
 
 
other”.
 
 
(5)
In the italic heading before Article 20A, at the end insert “and other
20
 
prisoners serving an Article 15A sentence”.
 
 
(6)
In Article 20A (restricted eligibility for release on licence of terrorist
 
 
prisoners)—
 
 
(a)
in the heading, after “prisoners” insert “and other prisoners serving
 
 
an Article 15A sentence”;
25
 
(b)
after paragraph (2A) insert—
 
 
“(2AB)
This Article also applies to a fixed-term prisoner who is
 
 
serving an Article 15A sentence imposed in respect of an
 
 
offence which is specified in Schedule 2B (offences
 
 
involving or connected with a threat to national security).”;
30
 
(c)
in paragraphs (3), (4), (5) and (7) omit “terrorist”;
 
 
(d)
in paragraph (8)—
 
 
(i)
omit “terrorist” in both places it occurs;
 
 
(ii)
for “Article 15A terrorism sentence” substitute “Article 15A
 
 
sentence”;
35
 
(e)
in paragraph (9)—
 
 
(i)
in the definition of “appropriate custodial term”, for “Article
 
 
15A terrorism sentence” substitute “Article 15A sentence”;
 

Page 86

 
(ii)
in the definition of “relevant part of the sentence”, for
 
 
“Article 15A terrorism sentence” substitute “Article 15A
 
 
sentence”.
 
 
(7)
In Article 33(6) (custodial periods to be aggregated in case of consecutive
 
 
sentences), in sub-paragraph (a)(i), for “Article 15A terrorism sentence”
5
 
substitute “Article 15A sentence”.
 

Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984

 
 
6
In paragraph 2A of the Schedule to the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984
 
 
(application of early release provisions to prisoners repatriated to Northern
 
 
Ireland), after sub-paragraph (4D) insert—
10
 
“(4E)
If sub-paragraph (4F) , (4G) or (4H) applies by virtue of an offence
 
 
in relation to which a determinate sentence is to be served,
 
 
Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland)
 
 
Order 2008 applies to the prisoner as if the prisoner were serving
 
 
a sentence imposed under Article 15A of the Order in respect of
15
 
an offence specified in Schedule 2B to the Order (sentence with
 
 
a fixed licence period imposed in respect of an offence involving
 
 
or connected with a threat to national security).
 
 
(4F)
This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that the offence
 
 
or any of the offences in relation to which a sentence is to be
20
 
served corresponds to an offence specified in any of paragraphs
 
 
1 to 3 , or paragraph 5 in a case where the ancillary offence relates
 
 
to an offence specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 3 , of Schedule
 
 
2B to the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (certain
 
 
offences under the Official Secrets Acts or the National Security
25
 
Act 2023).
 
 
(4G)
This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that—
 
 
(a)
the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a
 
 
sentence is to be served (“the overseas offence”)
 
 
corresponds to an offence under the law of Northern
30
 
Ireland (“the corresponding offence”),
 
 
(b)
the overseas offence was committed on or after the day
 
 
on which section 16 of the National Security Act 2023
 
 
came into force,
 
 
(c)
the corresponding offence—
35
 
(i)
is a “relevant electoral offence” within the meaning
 
 
of that section, and
 
 
(ii)
is punishable on indictment with imprisonment
 
 
for more than 2 years, and
 
 
(d)
findings made by the court before which the prisoner was
40
 
tried or sentenced for the overseas offence would, had the
 
 
prisoner been tried and sentenced in Northern Ireland for
 

Page 87

 
the corresponding offence, have justified a determination
 
 
under that section that the foreign power condition is met
 
 
in relation to the conduct that constitutes the offence.
 
 
(4H)
This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that—
 
 
(a)
the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a
5
 
sentence is to be served (“the overseas offence”)
 
 
corresponds to an offence under the law of Northern
 
 
Ireland (“the corresponding offence”),
 
 
(b)
the overseas offence was committed on or after the day
 
 
on which section 20 of the National Security Act 2023
10
 
came into force,
 
 
(c)
the corresponding offence—
 
 
(i)
is not an offence mentioned in subsection (2) of
 
 
that section, and
 
 
(ii)
is punishable on indictment with imprisonment
15
 
for more than 2 years, and
 
 
(d)
findings made by the court before which the prisoner was
 
 
tried or sentenced for the overseas offence would, had the
 
 
prisoner been tried and sentenced in Northern Ireland for
 
 
the corresponding offence, have justified a determination
20
 
under that section that the foreign power condition is met
 
 
in relation to the conduct that constitutes the offence.
 
 
(4I)
The Department of Justice may amend a warrant (whether issued
 
 
before or after sub-paragraph (4E) comes into force and whether
 
 
or not the transfer it authorises has taken place) so as to specify
25
 
the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (4F) , (4G) or (4H) .”
 
 
Schedule 3
Section 10
 

Corresponding provision about sentencing under service law: sentences for

 

offenders of particular concern

 
 
1
Section 224A of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (special custodial sentence for
30
 
offenders of particular concern) is amended in accordance with paragraphs
 
 
2 to 9 .
 
 
2
In subsection (1)(b) (before its substitution by paragraph 6(a)(ii) of Schedule
 
 
8 to the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021), after “listed in” insert
 
 
“Part 1 or 2 of”.
35
 
3
In subsection (1)(b) (after its substitution by paragraph 6(a)(ii) of Schedule
 
 
8 to the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021), in sub-paragraph (i),
 
 
after “listed in” insert “Part 1 or 2 of”.
 

Page 88

 
4
In subsection (1A) (as inserted by paragraph 8(4) of Schedule 8 to the
 
 
Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021), for the words before paragraph
 
 
(a), substitute “But nothing in subsection (1) results in this section applying
 
 
if—”.
 
 
5
After subsection (1A) insert—
5
 
“(1B)
This section also applies where—
 
 
(a)
a person aged 18 or over is convicted by the Court Martial
 
 
of an offence on or after the day on which paragraph 5 of
 
 
Schedule 3 to the Sentencing Act 2025 comes into force (“the
 
 
relevant day”),
10
 
(b)
the offence—
 
 
(i)
is an offence under section 42 (criminal conduct) as
 
 
respects which the corresponding offence under the
 
 
law of England and Wales is listed in Part 3 of
 
 
Schedule 13 to the Sentencing Code (offences
15
 
involving or connected with a threat to national
 
 
security) (except in paragraph 18 of that Schedule),
 
 
or
 
 
(ii)
is an offence, other than one for which the sentence
 
 
is fixed by law as life imprisonment, which is
20
 
punishable on indictment with imprisonment for
 
 
more than 2 years and where it is determined under
 
 
section 69A of the Sentencing Code (as applied by
 
 
section 238(7) of this Act) that the foreign power
 
 
condition is met in relation to the conduct that
25
 
constitutes the offence,
 
 
(c)
the court does not impose one of the following for the
 
 
offence—
 
 
(i)
a sentence of imprisonment or custody for life, or
 
 
(ii)
an extended sentence of detention or imprisonment
30
 
under section 266 or 279 of the Sentencing Code (as
 
 
applied by section 219A of this Act), and
 
 
(d)
if the person was aged under 18 when the offence was
 
 
committed, the offence was committed on or after the
 
 
relevant day.”
35
 
6
On the coming into force of paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to the
 
 
Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, in subsection (1B) of section
 
 
224A (as inserted by paragraph 5 of this Schedule), in paragraph (c) —
 
 
(a)
omit the “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (i) ;
 
 
(b)
after sub-paragraph (ii) (but before the “and” at the end of it) insert
40
 
“or
 
 
“(iii)
a serious terrorism sentence of detention or
 
 
imprisonment under section 268A or 282A of
 

Page 89

 
the Sentencing Code (as applied by section
 
 
219ZA of this Act),”.
 
 
7
In subsection (3), after “(1)(d),” insert “ (1B) (c) ,”.
 
 
8
In subsection (3A) (as inserted by paragraph 41(9)(b) of Schedule 13 to the
 
 
Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021), after “subsection (1A)” insert
5
 
“or (1B) ”.
 
 
9
If paragraph 6(a)(ii) of Schedule 8 to the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing
 
 
Act 2021 comes into force before paragraph 2 of this Schedule comes into
 
 
force, this Schedule is to be read as if paragraph 2 were omitted.
 
 
10
Section 224B of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (as inserted by paragraph 9 of
10
 
Schedule 8 to the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021) is amended
 
 
in accordance with paragraphs 11 to 14 .
 
 
11
In the heading, for “terrorist” substitute “certain”.
 
 
12
After subsection (1) insert—
 
 
“(1A)
Subsections (3) and (4) also apply where—
15
 
(a)
a person aged under 18 is convicted by the Court Martial
 
 
of an offence committed on or after the day on which
 
 
paragraph 12 of Schedule 3 to the Sentencing Act 2025 comes
 
 
into force,
 
 
(b)
the offence—
20
 
(i)
is an offence under section 42 (criminal conduct) as
 
 
respects which the corresponding offence under the
 
 
law of England and Wales is listed in Part 3 of
 
 
Schedule 13 to the Sentencing Code (offences
 
 
involving or connected with a threat to national
25
 
security) (except in paragraph 18 of that Schedule),
 
 
or
 
 
(ii)
is an offence, other than one for which the sentence
 
 
is fixed by law as life imprisonment, which is
 
 
punishable on indictment with imprisonment for
30
 
more than 2 years and where it is determined under
 
 
section 69A of the Sentencing Code (as applied by
 
 
section 238(7)) that the foreign power condition is
 
 
met in relation to the conduct that constitutes the
 
 
offence,
35
 
(c)
the court does not impose either of the following for the
 
 
offence (or for an offence associated with it)—
 
 
(i)
a sentence of detention for life under section 209, or
 
 
(ii)
an extended sentence of detention under section 254
 
 
of the Sentencing Code (as applied by section 221A
40
 
of this Act), and
 

Page 90

 
(d)
the court would, apart from this section, impose a custodial
 
 
sentence (see, in particular, section 260(2)).”
 
 
13
In subsection (2), after “subsection (1)(d)” insert “or (1A) (d) ”.
 
 
14
In subsection (5), after “subsection (1)” insert “or (1A) ”.
 
 
15
In consequence of the amendments made by paragraphs 10 to 14 , in the
5
 
table in section 117J(5) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (extension of driving
 
 
disqualification where custodial sentence or service detention also imposed),
 
 
in row 2, for “terrorist” substitute “certain”.
 
 
16
In paragraph 15 of Schedule 26 to the Sentencing Act 2020 (amendment of
 
 
section 224A of the Armed Forces Act 2006 in relation to prospective
10
 
abolition of sentences of detention in a young offender institution), after
 
 
sub-paragraph (a) insert—
 
 
“(aa)
in subsection (1B) (c) (i) (as inserted by paragraph 5 of
 
 
Schedule 3 to the Sentencing Act 2025) omit “or custody”;
 
 
(ab)
in subsection (1B) (c) (ii) (as inserted by paragraph 5 of
15
 
Schedule 3 to the Sentencing Act 2025) for “detention or
 
 
imprisonment under section 266 or 279” substitute
 
 
“imprisonment under section 279”;
 
 
(ac)
in subsection (1B) (c) (iii) (as inserted by paragraph 6 of
 
 
Schedule 3 to the Sentencing Act 2025), for “detention or
20
 
imprisonment under section 268A or 282A” substitute
 
 
“imprisonment under section 282A”.”
 
 
Schedule 4
Section 27 (4)
 

Offences where offender not eligible for automatic release under section

 

255BA after recall

25
 
This is the Schedule to be inserted in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 after Schedule
 
 
19ZA—
 
 
“Schedule 19ZB
Section 255A (8) (d)
 

Offences where offender not eligible for release at the end of the section

 

255BA automatic release period

30

Official Secrets Act 1911

 
 
1
An offence under section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (harbouring
 
 
spies).
 

Page 91

Official Secrets Act 1989

 
 
2
An offence under the Official Secrets Act 1989 other than an offence under
 
 
section 8(1), (4) or (5).
 

Terrorism Act 2000

 
 
3
An offence under any of the following provisions of the Terrorism Act
5
 
2000 —
 
 
(a)
section 13 (uniform and publication of images);
 
 
(b)
section 21D (tipping off: regulated sector);
 
 
(c)
section 36 (2) (failure to comply with an order, etc of constable in
 
 
connection with terrorist investigation);
10
 
(d)
section 51 (2) (failure to move a vehicle when required to do so);
 
 
(e)
section 116 (3) (failure to stop a vehicle when required to do so);
 
 
(f)
section 120B (offences in relation to counter-terrorism financial
 
 
investigators);
 
 
(g)
in Schedule 5 (terrorist investigations: information)—
15
 
(i)
paragraph 3 (7) (wilfully obstructing a search of a cordoned
 
 
area);
 
 
(ii)
paragraph 14 (making a false or misleading statement in
 
 
connection with a terrorist investigation);
 
 
(iii)
paragraph 15 (4) (wilfully obstructing an urgent search);
20
 
(iv)
paragraph 16 (3) (failure to comply with an urgent
 
 
explanation notice: England and Wales and Northern
 
 
Ireland);
 
 
(v)
paragraph 32 (3) (failure to comply with an urgent
 
 
explanation notice: Scotland);
25
 
(h)
in Schedule 5A (terrorist financing investigations: disclosure
 
 
orders)—
 
 
(i)
paragraph 11 (failure to comply with disclosure order or
 
 
making false or misleading statement in purported
 
 
compliance: England and Wales and Northern Ireland);
30
 
(ii)
paragraph 21 (failure to comply with disclosure order or
 
 
making false or misleading statement in purported
 
 
compliance: Scotland);
 
 
(i)
paragraph 1 (3) of Schedule 6 (failure to comply with requirement
 
 
to provide financial information);
35
 
(j)
paragraph 18 of Schedule 7 (port and border controls: failure to
 
 
comply with duty, etc).
 

Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

 
 
4
An offence under any of the following provisions of the Counter-Terrorism
 
 
Act 2008 —
40

Page 92

 
(a)
paragraph 15 of Schedule 5 (breach of foreign travel restriction
 
 
order);
 
 
(b)
in Schedule 7 (terrorist financing and money laundering)—
 
 
(i)
paragraph 30 (failure to comply with requirement imposed
 
 
by direction);
5
 
(ii)
paragraph 30A (circumvention of requirement imposed by
 
 
direction);
 
 
(iii)
paragraph 31 (offences in connection with licences).
 

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015

 
 
5
An offence under paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the Counter-Terrorism
10
 
and Security Act 2015 (failure to hand over travel documents or hindering
 
 
a search).
 

Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019

 
 
6
An offence under paragraph 23 of Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism
 
 
and Border Security Act 2019 (failure to comply with a duty relating to
15
 
border security or obstructing a search).
 

National Security Act 2023

 
 
7
An offence under any of the following provisions of the National Security
 
 
Act 2023 —
 
 
(a)
section 5 (1) (unauthorised entry to a prohibited place);
20
 
(b)
section 6 (4) (failure to comply with instructions of constable around
 
 
a prohibited place);
 
 
(c)
section 11 (4) (failure to comply with police cordon);
 
 
(d)
section 69 (5) (requirement to register foreign influence arrangements);
 
 
(e)
section 71 (2) or (3) (carrying out political influence activities pursuant
25
 
to unregistered foreign influence arrangement);
 
 
(f)
section 72 (6) (failure to register political influence activities of foreign
 
 
powers);
 
 
(g)
section 74 (8) committed in relation to a foreign influence
 
 
arrangement registered under section 69 or a political influence
30
 
activity registered under section 72 (failure to submit material change
 
 
in relation to foreign influence arrangement or political influence
 
 
activity registrations);
 
 
(h)
section 75 (8) committed in relation to an information notice given
 
 
under section 75(2) (failure to comply with a requirement to provide
35
 
information);
 
 
(i)
section 77 (3) or (4) (providing false information);
 
 
(j)
section 78 (2) (carrying out activities under arrangements tainted by
 
 
false information);
 

Page 93

 
(k)
in Schedule 2 (powers of entry, search and seizure)—
 
 
(i)
paragraph 11 (1) (providing false or misleading response to
 
 
an order requiring explanation of material);
 
 
(ii)
paragraph 12 (5) (wilfully obstructing an urgent search);
 
 
(iii)
paragraph 14 (3) (failure to comply with an urgent notice);
5
 
(l)
in Schedule 3 (disclosure orders)—
 
 
(i)
paragraph 7 (1) (failure to comply with a disclosure order);
 
 
(ii)
paragraph 7 (3) (making a false or misleading statement in
 
 
response to a disclosure order);
 
 
(m)
paragraph 6 (1) of Schedule 4 (failure to comply with a customer
10
 
information order).
 

Acting for foreign power

 
 
8
An offence in relation to which, under section 20 of the National Security
 
 
Act 2023 (aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: Northern
 
 
Ireland), the foreign power condition has been determined to have been
15
 
met in relation to the conduct that constituted the offence.
 
 
9
An offence to which section 21 of that Act applies (aggravating factor where
 
 
foreign power condition met: Scotland).
 

Inchoate offences

 
 
10
An attempt to commit an offence specified in a preceding paragraph of
20
 
this Schedule (“a listed offence”).
 
 
11
Conspiracy to commit a listed offence.
 
 
12
An offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 in relation to which
 
 
a listed offence is the offence (or one of the offences) which the person
 
 
intended or believed would be committed.
25
 
13
Incitement to commit a listed offence.
 
 
14
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of a listed offence.
 

Service offences

 
 
15
(1)
A reference in any of the preceding paragraphs of this Schedule to an
 
 
offence (“offence A”) includes—
30
 
(a)
a reference to an offence under section 70 of the Army Act 1955 or
 
 
section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 as respects which the
 
 
corresponding civil offence (within the meaning of that Act ) is
 
 
offence A,
 
 
(b)
a reference to an offence under section 42 of the Naval Discipline
35
 
Act 1957 as respects which the civil offence (within the meaning
 
 
given by that section ) is offence A, and
 

Page 94

 
(c)
a reference to an offence under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act
 
 
2006 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of
 
 
England and Wales (within the meaning given by that section ) is
 
 
offence A.
 
 
(2)
Section 48 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (attempts etc. outside England
5
 
and Wales) applies for the purposes of paragraph (c) of sub-paragraph (1)
 
 
as if the reference in subsection (3)(b) to any of the following provisions
 
 
of that Act were a reference to that paragraph .”
 
 
Schedule 5
Section 31 (3)
 

Repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence:

10

consequential provision

 

Part 1

 

Amendments consequential on repeals made by section

 

Crime (Sentences) Act 1997

 
 
1
Schedule 1 to the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (transfer of prisoners within
15
 
the British Islands) is amended as follows.
 
 
2
(1)
Paragraph 6 (effect of transfer) is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In sub-paragraph (2) (b) , for “, possible recall following release and any
 
 
supervision default order” substitute “and possible recall following release”.
 
 
(3)
In sub-paragraph (2) (c) , for “, possible recall and any supervision default
20
 
order” substitute “and possible recall”.
 
 
(4)
In sub-paragraph (3) , omit paragraph (c) .
 
 
(5)
In sub-paragraph (4) , omit the definition of “supervision default order”.
 
 
3
(1)
Paragraph 8 (restricted transfers from England and Wales to Scotland) is
 
 
amended as follows.
25
 
(2)
In sub-paragraph (2) (a) —
 
 
(a)
omit “19A,”;
 
 
(b)
for “, 242 and 247” substitute “and 242”.
 
 
(3)
In sub-paragraph (4) (a) —
 
 
(a)
omit “19A,”;
30
 
(b)
for “sections 242 and 247” substitute “section 242”.
 
 
(4)
In sub-paragraph (8) —
 
 
(a)
omit paragraphs (b) and (c) (and the “and” at the end of paragraph
 
 
(b));
 

Page 95

 
(b)
in the words after paragraph (c) , for “paragraphs 8A, 19A and 19B”
 
 
substitute “paragraph 19A”.
 
 
(5)
In sub-paragraph (9) —
 
 
(a)
in paragraph (a) , for “256AA to 256E of, and Schedule 19A to,”
 
 
substitute “256B to 256E of”;
5
 
(b)
omit paragraphs (b) and (c) (and the “and” at the end of paragraph
 
 
(b)).
 
 
(6)
In the Table in sub-paragraph (10), omit the entry for “Young offender
 
 
institution”.
 
 
(7)
Omit sub-paragraphs (11) and (12) .
10
 
4
Omit paragraph 8A (further provision about supervision default orders)
 
 
and the italic heading before it.
 
 
5
(1)
Paragraph 9 (restricted transfers from England and Wales to Northern
 
 
Ireland) is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In sub-paragraph (2) (a) , for “, 242 and 247” substitute “and 242”.
15
 
(3)
In sub-paragraph (4) (a) , for “sections 242 and 247” substitute “section 242”.
 
 
(4)
Omit sub-paragraphs (9) to (12) .
 
 
6
Omit paragraph 19B (electronic monitoring in Scotland of requirements in
 
 
supervision default order) and the italic heading before it.
 
 
7
In paragraph 20 (1) (interpretation), in the definition of “supervision”, omit
20
 
paragraph (d) (but not the “or” at the end of it).
 

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

 
 
8
In section 38(4) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (meaning of “youth
 
 
justice services”)—
 
 
(a)
omit paragraph (ha);
25
 
(b)
omit paragraph (ib).
 

Criminal Justice Act 2003

 
 
9
(1)
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 256D (drug testing requirements), in subsections (1) and (2), for
 
 
“this Chapter” substitute “section 256B”.
30
 
(3)
In section 256E (drug appointment requirements), in subsections (1) and
 
 
(2), for “this Chapter” substitute “section 256B”.
 
 
(4)
In section 264 (consecutive terms)—
 
 
(a)
in subsection (3C) , omit paragraph (b) ;
 
 
(b)
omit subsection (3D) .
35
 
(5)
In section 268 (interpretation)—
 

Page 96

 
(a)
in subsection (1)—
 
 
(i)
omit the definition of “offender subject to supervision under
 
 
this Chapter”;
 
 
(ii)
omit the definition of “supervision default order”;
 
 
(iii)
omit the definition of “the supervision period”;
5
 
(iv)
in the definition of “the supervisor”, omit paragraph (a) (and
 
 
the “and” at the end of that paragraph);
 
 
(b)
in subsection (2), omit “256AA(1),”.
 
 
(6)
In section 302 (execution of process between England and Wales and
 
 
Scotland)—
10
 
(a)
omit “section 256AC(1) or (3),”;
 
 
(b)
omit “paragraph 8(1) or 10(5) of Schedule 19A,” (and the “or” that
 
 
appears before those words).
 
 
(7)
In section 330 (5) (a) (orders subject to affirmative procedure)—
 
 
(a)
omit “section 256AB(4),”;
15
 
(b)
omit “paragraph 6 of Schedule 19A,”.
 
 
(8)
In Schedule 20B (modifications of Chapter 6 of Part 12 in certain transitional
 
 
cases)—
 
 
(a)
in paragraph 22 , omit sub-paragraph (3A) ;
 
 
(b)
in paragraph 33 , omit sub-paragraph (4) .
20

Offender Management Act 2007

 
 
10
In section 4 (3) of the Offender Management Act 2007 (restriction on
 
 
arrangements for the provision of probation services)—
 
 
(a)
at the end of paragraph (a) insert “or”;
 
 
(b)
omit paragraph (c) (and the “or” before it).
25

Sentencing Code

 
 
11
(1)
The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In section 45 (occasions where criminal courts charge duty arises), omit
 
 
paragraph (c).
 
 
(3)
In section 46(2) (criminal courts charge duty), in the definition of “relevant
30
 
failure”—
 
 
(a)
at the end of paragraph (a), insert “or”;
 
 
(b)
omit paragraph (c) (and the “or” before it).
 
 
(4)
In section 238(3) (offender subject to more than one order), omit “and 247”.
 
 
(5)
In section 248(2) (interpretation), for “, 242 and 247” substitute “and 242”.
35

Page 97

Part 2

 

Repeal of provision which inserts or amends provision repealed by section

 
 
31 or Part 1 of this Schedule
 

Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014

 
 
12
(1)
The Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 is amended as follows.
5
 
(2)
In section 2 , omit subsections (2) and (4) (a) .
 
 
(3)
Omit section 3 .
 
 
(4)
In section 5 , omit subsections (6) to (8).
 
 
(5)
In Schedule 1 , omit Part 1 .
 
 
(6)
Omit Schedule 2 .
10
 
(7)
In Schedule 3 , omit—
 
 
(a)
paragraph 2(2), (3) and (5);
 
 
(b)
paragraph 4 ;
 
 
(c)
paragraph 5 (5) ;
 
 
(d)
paragraph 9 (2) ;
15
 
(e)
in paragraph 23 (4) —
 
 
(i)
the definition of “offender subject to supervision under this
 
 
Chapter”;
 
 
(ii)
the definition of “supervision default order”;
 
 
(iii)
the definition of “the supervision period”;
20
 
(f)
paragraph 24 (4) ;
 
 
(g)
paragraph 25 .
 

Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

 
 
13
(1)
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In Schedule 1 , omit paragraph 18 .
25
 
(3)
In Schedule 12 , omit paragraph 14 .
 

Sentencing Act 2020

 
 
14
(1)
Schedule 24 to the Sentencing Act 2020 is amended as follows.
 
 
(2)
In paragraph 149 , omit—
 
 
(a)
sub-paragraph (3) (d) to (f) ;
30
 
(b)
sub-paragraph (4) (c) ;
 
 
(c)
sub-paragraph (5) (c) .
 
 
(3)
In paragraph 154 —
 
 
(a)
omit paragraph (c) ;
 

Page 98

 
(b)
omit paragraph (e) .
 
 
(4)
Omit paragraphs 229 to 231 .
 
 
(5)
Omit paragraph 248 .
 
 
(6)
In paragraph 262 , omit paragraph (c) .
 

Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020

5
 
15
In the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 , omit
 
 
section 7 (3) .
 

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

 
 
16
In the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 , omit section 150 (8) .
 
Amendments

No amendments available.