Overview
- The Sentencing Bill, introduced to Parliament this week, would require explicit approval from the justice secretary and the Lady Chief Justice before any new sentencing guidelines are issued, with either able to block them.
- The change follows emergency action that stopped council proposals urging courts to normally seek pre‑sentence reports for defendants from ethnic, cultural or faith minorities, women, young adults, pregnant women and other listed groups.
- Ministers argue the approval requirement restores democratic oversight and protects equal treatment, while critics warn it risks politicising sentencing; the judiciary declined to comment.
- The legislation would also require the Sentencing Council to obtain the justice secretary’s sign‑off on its annual business plan.
- The package is tied to prison‑capacity reforms, including earned‑release credits modelled on Texas, curbs on most short custodial sentences, and expanded electronic tagging with additional probation investment.