Sentencing

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts. In England and Wales, courts sentence offenders within the framework set by Parliament and in accordance with guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council. Those guidelines are designed to promote consistency and transparency, while ensuring that courts can take full account of the circumstances of each case, including culpability, harm, and any relevant aggravating and mitigating factors.

Sentencing policy is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Government continues to engage constructively with the devolved governments on justice matters where appropriate, but has not made a formal UK-wide assessment of public confidence in sentencing. Differences in approach reflect separate legal systems, but there is shared interest across jurisdictions in maintaining public confidence and effective justice outcomes.

In England and Wales, the Government closely monitors public confidence in the criminal justice system through a range of published data and is committed to ensuring that sentencing outcomes across all offences (including specific communication offences), punish offenders, protect the public, support victims and command confidence. As part of wider sentencing reforms, we are taking forward measures to strengthen the effectiveness and transparency of sentencing, including implementing the recommendations of the Independent Sentencing Review.