Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to review the sentencing guidelines for the offence of non fatal strangulation to recognise the significantly increased risk of future lethal violence.

Sentencing guidelines are developed by the independent Sentencing Council, in fulfilment of its statutory duty to do so. The Council has issued a guideline for strangulation and suffocation offences which came into force in January 2025. The guideline provides a structured approach for sentencers to follow when sentencing these offences and is designed to help enhance consistency and transparency in sentencing decisions. It is available on the Council’s website at: https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/strangulation-or-suffocation-racially-or-religiously-aggravated-strangulation-or-suffocation/

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