Reading the bill’s publication files and writing a plain-English Green Book note…
Reading the bill’s publication files and writing a plain-English Green Book note…
Proposal 4012
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.
Appraisal prepared just now from the official papers. Next scheduled update after the next sitting or within about 24 hours.
Sponsor: Ministry of Justice
Open publications on bills.parliament.ukPlain-English note and Green Book five-case reading from the official papers — the heart of this page.
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In plain English
, including measures which do not contain any delegated powers. SUMMARY OF THE BILL Part 1: Sentencing 2. Part 1 (sentencing) of the Bill will: a. introduce a presumption against short custodial sentences of 12 months or less unless there are exceptional circumstances, subject to certain exemptions; b. extend the use of suspended sentences by allowing courts to suspend custodial sentences of up to three years, for three years (currently, courts may suspend sentences of up to two years, for two years); c. introduce a new form of ancillary order which allows for a penalty to be imposed linked to an offender’s income and create powers for the Secretary of State to make provision in regulations for various aspects of these orders; d. amend the statutory purposes of sentencing to include an express reference to the protection of victims; e. extend the period for which sentencing may be deferr
amend the statutory purposes of sentencing to include an express reference to the protection of victims; e. repeal section 73(2) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which allowed for Parole Board Rules to make provision about the number and type of Parole Board members required for cases and about timings for dealing with those cases.
The order will require an offender to pay a monthly amount which corresponds to a particular percentage of their monthly income above a threshold for up to the duration of their suspended sentence. The order will require an offender to pay an amount which corresponds to a particular percentage of their income above a threshold.
Same bill, simpler words — a deeper read without the jargon.
Imagine the country is making a new rule. This one is about: , including measures which do not contain any delegated powers. SUMMARY OF THE BILL Part 1: Sentencing 2. Part 1 (sentencing) of the Bill will: a. introduce a presumption against short custodial sentences of 12 months or less unless there are exceptional circumstances, subject to certain exemptions; b. extend the use of suspended sentences by allowing courts to suspend custodial sentences of up to three years, for three years (currently, courts may suspend sentences of up to two years, for two years); c. introduce a new form of ancillary order which allows for a penalty to be imposed linked to an offender’s income and create powers for the Secretary of State to make provision in regulations for various aspects of these orders; d. amend the statutory purposes of sentencing to include an express reference to the protection of victims; e. extend the period for which sentencing may be deferr. The people who would notice most are: amend the statutory purposes of sentencing to include an express reference to the protection of victims; e. repeal section 73(2) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which allowed for Parole Board Rules to make provision about the number and type of Parole Board members required for cases and about timings for dealing with those cases.. If it became a real law, the everyday change would be: The order will require an offender to pay a monthly amount which corresponds to a particular percentage of their monthly income above a threshold for up to the duration of their suspended sentence. The order will require an offender to pay an amount which corresponds to a particular percentage of their income above a threshold..
Green Book 2026 · 5 Case Model
, including measures which do not contain any delegated powers. SUMMARY OF THE BILL Part 1: Sentencing 2. Part 1 (sentencing) of the Bill will: a. introduce a presumption against short custodial sentences of 12 months or less unless there are exceptional circumstances, subject to certain exemptions; b. extend the use of suspended sentences by allowing courts to suspend custodial sentences of up to three years, for three years (currently, courts may suspend sentences of up to two years, for two years); c. introduce a new form of ancillary order which allows for a penalty to be imposed linked to an offender’s income and create powers for the Secretary of State to make provision in regulations for various aspects of these orders; d. amend the statutory purposes of sentencing to include an express reference to the protection of victims; e. extend the period for which sentencing may be deferr
It is currently at Royal Assent in the Unassigned, sponsored by Ministry of Justice.
Accountability · outcome beside Green Book evidence
Sentencing Act 2026 became law. The official papers we read covered some Green Book cases well and left gaps in others. For accountability, the outcome sits beside a mixed evidence trail — worth reading the case notes below.
Strategic: , including measures which do not contain any delegated powers. SUMMARY OF THE BILL Part 1: Sentencing 2. Part 1 (sentencing) of the Bill will: a. introduce a presumption against short custodial sentences of 12 months or less unless there are exceptional circumstances, subject to certain exemptions; b. extend the use of suspended sentences by allowing courts to suspend custodial sentences of up to three years, for three years (currently, courts may suspend sentences of up to two years, for two years); c. introduce a new form of ancillary order which allows for a penalty to be imposed linked to an offender’s income and create powers for the Secretary of State to make provision in regulations for various aspects of these orders; d. amend the statutory purposes of sentencing to include an express reference to the protection of victims; e. extend the period for which sentencing may be deferr
Economic: Gap — The papers we read for this bill do not give a figure in pounds for what it would cost or save. That is not a yes or no on the bill.
Commercial: Gap — The papers we read for this bill do not say how this would be bought, contracted or put in place.
Financial: Gap — The papers we read for this bill do not say who would pay for it, or where the money would come from.
Management: This memorandum has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice for the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, to assist with its scrutiny of the Sentencing Bill 2025 (‘the Bill’). introduce a new form of ancillary order which allows for a penalty to be imposed linked to an offender’s income and create powers for the Secretary of State to make provision in regulations for various aspects of these orders; d.
This is an accountability reading, not a recommendation and not a score. It does not say whether Parliament should have passed or rejected the bill. It only sets the actual parliamentary outcome beside how complete the Green Book five-case evidence was in the official papers.
These UK Acts sit in a similar policy space and are already law. Pairing uses this proposal’s official papers (and the plain-English note themes). It is not a verdict that the proposal is redundant or unnecessary.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2025-08-08
Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Act 2025
Same policy area (“Justice / crime”) with overlapping title wording. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — useful context when asking whether this bill adds something new or mainly revisits covered ground.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2012-05-17
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
Same policy area (“Justice / crime”) with overlapping title wording. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — useful context when asking whether this bill adds something new or mainly revisits covered ground.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2025-10-28
Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Act 2020
Same policy area (“Justice / crime”) with overlapping title wording. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — useful context when asking whether this bill adds something new or mainly revisits covered ground.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2022-07-14
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Same policy area (“Justice / crime”) with overlapping title wording. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — useful context when asking whether this bill adds something new or mainly revisits covered ground.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2021-05-05
Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021
Same policy area (“Justice / crime”) with overlapping title wording. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — useful context when asking whether this bill adds something new or mainly revisits covered ground.