Sentencing Council announces new guidelines

Sentencing Council announces new guidelines

For the first time, judges and magistrates will have guidelines to assist in sentencing perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation offences. 

According to a press release by the UK's Sentencing Council , the guidelines will ensure a consistent approach is taken to sentencing these two offences and make the process more transparent and easier to understand for victims, witnesses, offenders and the public.

There are currently no guidelines for the offence of perverting the course of justice and only limited guidance in the magistrates’ courts for witness intimidation. The new guidelines, which apply to adults only, will come into effect on 1 October 2023.

Perverting the course of justice offences cover a wide range of conduct, from giving false information to police officers at a traffic stop, tampering with evidence or giving false information during a police interview. Such behaviour could lead to offenders avoiding prosecution or innocent people being wrongly investigated or charged, potentially even being convicted and sent to prison.

Witness intimidation offences include pressuring witnesses to withdraw allegations or witness statements or withhold evidence in court, using actual violence or threats of violence. Such offences could lead to people withholding important evidence critical  to the outcome of a case.

Sentencing Council member, Mrs Justice May, said: “Perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation are serious offences that undermine the administration of justice by falsely accusing people or withholding crucial evidence thus potentially damaging police investigations and wasting courts’ time.

“Innocent people can suffer irreparable damage to their lives through loss of jobs, freedom or reputation while victims and witnesses can feel so frightened that they withdraw from proceedings, resulting in offenders avoiding trial and escaping punishment.”

Information on the new guidelines can be found here.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
Latest News

UN and coalition of NGOs write to Unilever to voice deep concern regarding victims of violence at Unilever tea plantation

Tue Sep 26 2023

Live Facial Recognition: How to Stay Within the Law

Tue Sep 26 2023

Ethics Institute launches taskforce to examine legal services to oligarchs and kleptocrats

Mon Sep 25 2023

Legal Departments See Higher Matter Volumes but Flat or Declining Budgets: Thomson Reuters 2023 Legal Department Operations Index

Mon Sep 25 2023

More Than 200 Employers Named And Shamed For Failing To Pay National Minimum Wage

Mon Sep 25 2023

Browne Jacobson collaborates with LGiU on report highlighting “critical” role of local government to hit net zero

Fri Sep 22 2023

BSB publishes new guidance on barristers’ conduct in non-professional life and on social media

Fri Sep 22 2023

The Chancery Lane Project expands to the USA

Thu Sep 21 2023

Delay in Final Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry

Thu Sep 21 2023
FeaturedNew report highlights the transformative effects of domestic abuse training on family lawyers
New report highlights the transformative effects of domestic abuse training on family lawyers
Asylum seekers stranded on Diego Garcia win challenge against return to Sri Lanka
Asylum seekers stranded on Diego Garcia win challenge against return to Sri Lanka
A solicitor’s stance on EDI in the workplace
A solicitor’s stance on EDI in the workplace
New UK data protection bill may lighten the burden for business
New UK data protection bill may lighten the burden for business
SJ Interview: Hannah Ambrose
SJ Interview: Hannah Ambrose
Whose human rights are more important, yours or mine?
Whose human rights are more important, yours or mine?