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Sexual Offences: Sentencing

Asked by Matt VickersConservativeMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 22 June 2026UIN 9387

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of youth custody reduction targets on sentencing outcomes for serious sexual offences.

Answered by Jake Richards

Protecting the public is the Government’s main priority. Custody will continue to be available for the most serious offences and offenders, and the reforms set out in the Youth Justice White Paper do not alter that. The policies in the White Paper will reduce offending, make our streets safer and secure better lives for young people.

Individual sentencing decisions are rightly a matter for the independent courts.

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