Written Question·Ministry of Justice·UIN 100765

Prison Sentences

Tabled: 16 December 2025

Answered: 23 December 2025

Question

James McMurdock

Independent — South Basildon and East Thurrock

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to Answer of 9th December 2025 to Question 96041, on Reoffenders: Sentencing, what assessment he has made of how frequently courts depart from sentencing guidelines on the basis that it is in the interes

Answer

Jake Richards

All sentencing courts in England and Wales must follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the offender’s case, unless it is in the interests of justice not to do so (by virtue of section 59 of the Sentencing Code). Whilst there is a high bar ...

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