Legislation – Sentencing Act 2026

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Introduction

Part 1
Sentencing

1 Presumption of suspended sentence order for sentences of 12 months or less

2 Custodial sentences that may be suspended

3 Income reduction orders

4 Purposes of sentencing

5 Date to which passing of sentence may be deferred

6 Finding of domestic abuse

7 Special custodial sentence for certain offenders of particular concern: England and Wales

8 Sentence with fixed licence period: Scotland

9 Sentence with fixed licence period: Northern Ireland

10 Corresponding provision under service law

11 Whole life order: murder of police, prison or probation officer

12 Removal of requirement to specify maximum number of days

13 Rehabilitation activity requirement renamed probation requirement

14 Driving prohibition requirement

15 Public event attendance prohibition requirement

16 Drinking establishment entry prohibition requirement

17 Restriction zone requirement

18 Power to add or alter requirements

19 Sentencing Council business plan

20 Sentencing guidelines

21 Annual report relating to prison capacity

22 Provision of transcripts of sentencing remarks to victims

Part 2
Management of offenders after sentencing

23 Release

24 Release: consequential amendments relating to driving disqualification

25 Release on licence of certain violent or sexual offenders: service offences

26 Limitation of provisions about home detention curfew

27 Licence conditions

28 Licence conditions: offenders sentenced under repealed armed forces legislation

29 Power to make provision about recall to prison

30 Further release after recall: introductory

31 Further release after recall: relevant young offenders suitable for automatic release

32 Further release after recall: other offenders eligible for automatic release

33 Further release after recall: supplementary

34 Repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence

35 Early removal of prisoners liable to removal from United Kingdom

36 Removal of maximum period for unpaid work requirement

37 Number of hours of work required by unpaid work requirement

38 Termination of community order

39 Termination of supervision period of suspended sentence order

40 Rules about the proceedings of the Parole Board

41 Application of provisions about release etc to certain repatriated prisoners

42 Imprisonment or detention for public protection: termination of licences

43 Powers of High Court on referral

Part 3
Bail

44 Amendments to Bail Act 1976

Part 4
Foreign criminals

45 Deportation of foreign criminals

Part 5
General

46 Power to make consequential provision

47 Power to state effect in Sentencing Act 2020 of commencement of amendments made by this Act

48 Extent

49 Commencement

50 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Presumption of suspended sentence order: consequential provision

Schedule 2 Sentence with fixed licence period in Scotland or Northern Ireland: consequential provision

Schedule 3 Corresponding provision about sentencing under service law: sentences for offenders of particular concern

Schedule 4 Offences where offender not eligible for automatic release under section 255BA after recall

Schedule 5 Repeal of provisions relating to supervision after end of sentence: consequential provision

Schedules

Schedule 2Sentence with fixed licence period in Scotland or Northern Ireland: consequential provision

Part 1Scotland

Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984

4

(1)

In the Schedule to the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984, paragraph 2 (application of early release provisions) as it applies in relation to prisoners repatriated to Scotland is amended as follows.

(2)

After sub-paragraph (3D) insert—

“(3E)

If sub-paragraph (3F), (3G) or (3H) applies by virtue of an offence in relation to which a determinate sentence is to be served, Part 1 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 applies to the prisoner as if the prisoner were serving a sentence imposed under section 205ZC of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of an offence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to that Act (sentence with a fixed licence period imposed in respect of an offence involving or connected with a threat to national security).

(3F)

This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a sentence is to be served corresponds to an offence specified in any of paragraphs 9 to 11, or paragraph 13 in a case where the listed offence is an offence specified in any of paragraphs 9 to 11, of Part 2 of Schedule 5ZB to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (certain offences under the Official Secrets Acts or the National Security Act 2023).

(3G)

This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that—

(a)

the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a sentence is to be served (“the overseas offence”) corresponds to an offence under the law of Scotland (“the corresponding offence”),

(b)

the overseas offence was committed on or after the day on which section 16 of the National Security Act 2023 came into force,

(c)

the corresponding offence—

(i)

is a “relevant electoral offence” within the meaning of that section, and

(ii)

is punishable on indictment with imprisonment for more than 2 years, and

(d)

findings made by the court before which the prisoner was tried or sentenced for the overseas offence would, had the prisoner been tried and sentenced in Scotland for the corresponding offence, have justified a determination under that section that the foreign power condition is met in relation to the conduct that constitutes the offence.

(3H)

This sub-paragraph applies if the warrant specifies that—

(a)

the offence or any of the offences in relation to which a sentence is to be served (“the overseas offence”) corresponds to an offence under the law of Scotland (“the corresponding offence”),

(b)

the overseas offence was committed on or after the day on which section 21 of the National Security Act 2023 came into force,

(c)

the corresponding offence—

(i)

is not an offence mentioned in subsection (6) of that section, and

(ii)

is punishable on indictment with imprisonment for more than 2 years, and

(d)

findings made by the court before which the prisoner was tried or sentenced for the overseas offence would, had the prisoner been tried and sentenced in Scotland for the corresponding offence, have justified a determination under that section that the foreign power condition is met in relation to the conduct that constitutes the offence.

(3I)

The Scottish Ministers may amend a warrant (whether issued before or after sub-paragraph (3E) comes into force and whether or not the transfer it authorises has taken place) so as to specify the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (3F), (3G) or (3H).”

(3)

In sub-paragraph (4), for “that Act” substitute “the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993”.