Sentencing Act 2020

Sentencing Act 2020

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to sentencing.
Citation	2020 c. 17
Introduced by	Robert Buckland, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Commons) The Lord Keen of Elie, Advocate General for Scotland (Lords)
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland (in part) Northern Ireland (in part)
Dates
Royal assent	22 October 2020
Commencement	various
Other legislation
Amends	List Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Prison Act 1952 Prevention of Crime Act 1953 Copyright Act 1956 Nuclear Installations Act 1965 Criminal Appeal Act 1968 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 Firearms Act 1968 Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 Civil Evidence Act 1968 Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1968 Children and Young Persons Act 1969 Administration of Justice Act 1970 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Juries Act 1974 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Consumer Credit Act 1974 Solicitors Act 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Bail Act 1976 Criminal Law Act 1977 Interpretation Act 1978 Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980 Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act 1980 Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 Criminal Attempts Act 1981 Contempt of Court Act 1981 Senior Courts Act 1981 Criminal Justice Act 1982 Mental Health Act 1983 Child Abduction Act 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 Housing Act 1985 Surrey Act 1985 Clwyd County Council Act 1985 Insolvency Act 1986 Public Order Act 1986 Costs in Criminal Cases (General) Regulations 1986 Malicious Communications Act 1988 Criminal Justice Act 1988 Local Government Finance Act 1988 Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Housing Act 1988 Road Traffic Act 1988 Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 Football Spectators Act 1989 Children Act 1989 Environmental Protection Act 1990 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Criminal Justice Act 1991 Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991 Social Security Administration Act 1992 Local Government Finance Act 1992 Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992 Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Prisoners (Return to Custody) Act 1995 Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 Environment Act 1995 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 London Local Authorities Act 1995 Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 Housing Act 1996 Education Act 1996 Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 Police Act 1997 Police (Property) Regulations 1997 Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) Order 1997 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 Prison Rules 1999 Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Terrorism Act 2000 Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 Youth Justice Board for England and Wales Order 2000 Magistrates' Courts Warrants (Specification of Provisions) Order 2000 Young Offender Institution Rules 2000 Social Security Fraud Act 2001 Private Security Industry Act 2001 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 International Criminal Court Act 2001 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 Tax Credits Act 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Child Tax Credit Regulations 2002 Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) (England) Order 2002 Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 Courts Act 2003 Extradition Act 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Criminal Justice Act 2003 Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Exemptions from Civil Recovery) Order 2003 Guardian's Allowance (General) Regulations 2003 Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 Energy Act 2004 Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Human Tissue Act 2004 Children Act 2004 Housing Act 2004 Magistrates' Courts (Parenting Orders) Rules 2004 Constitutional Reform Act 2005 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 Education Act 2005 Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2005 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2005 National Health Service (Personal Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2005 National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 2005 Terrorism Act 2006 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 Children and Adoption Act 2006 Childcare Act 2006 Health Act 2006 Government of Wales Act 2006 Fraud Act 2006 Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 National Health Service Act 2006 National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 Companies Act 2006 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 Police and Justice Act 2006 Road Safety Act 2006 Charities Act 2006 Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 Armed Forces Act 2006 Recovery of Health Services Charges (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Child Benefit (General) Regulations 2006 National Health Service (Personal Dental Services Agreements) (Wales) Regulations 2006 National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2006 National Health Service (Dental Charges) (Wales) Regulations 2006 Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Reviews of Sentencing) Order 2006 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Appeals under Section 74) Order 2006 Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007 Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 Offender Management Act 2007 Serious Crime Act 2007 Legal Services Act 2007 London Local Authorities Act 2007 National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Wales) Regulations 2007 Criminal Defence Service (Funding) Order 2007 Community Order (Review by Specified Courts) Order 2007 Electronic Commerce Directive (Terrorism Act 2006) Regulations 2007 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 Health and Social Care Act 2008 Education and Skills Act 2008 Climate Change Act 2008 Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 Immigration (Disposal of Property) Regulations 2008 Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008 Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008 Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2008 Export Control Order 2008 Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 Coroners and Justice Act 2009 Zimbabwe (Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2009 Iran (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2009 Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 Armed Forces (Service Civilian Court) Rules 2009 Armed Forces (Financial Penalty Enforcement Orders) Regulations 2009 Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 North Korea (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2009 Community Care, Services for Carers and Children's Services (Direct Payments) (England) Regulations 2009 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Armed Forces) Order 2009 Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009 Armed Forces (Civilian Courts Dealing with Service Offences) (Modification of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) Regulations 2009 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (Commencement No.13 and Transitory Provision) Order 2009 Bribery Act 2010 Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 Identity Documents Act 2010 Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010 Environmental Civil Sanctions (Wales) Order 2010 Child Minding and Day Care (Disqualification) (Wales) Regulations 2010 Visits to Former Looked After Children in Detention (England) Regulations 2010 National Assembly for Wales Referendum (Assembly Act Provisions) (Referendum Question, Date of Referendum Etc.) Order 2010 Disabled People's Right to Control (Pilot Scheme) (England) Regulations 2010 Somalia (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2010 Finance Act 2011 Localism Act 2011 Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 Public Bodies Act 2011 Charities Act 2011 Export Control (Somalia) Order 2011 Egypt (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 Tunisia (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 Iran (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 Disclosure of State Pension Credit Information (Warm Home Discount) Regulations 2011 Afghanistan (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 Export Control (Belarus) and (Syria Amendment) Order 2011 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 Welfare Reform Act 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Finance Act 2012 Financial Services Act 2012 Syria (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012 Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012 Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012 Guinea-Bissau (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 Iraq (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 Republic of Guinea (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 Democratic Republic of the Congo (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 Eritrea (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 Lebanon and Syria (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Surcharge) Order 2012 Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations 2012 National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 Crime and Courts Act 2013 Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 Energy Act 2013 Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 Criminal Legal Aid (General) Regulations 2013 Belarus (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2013 National Health Service (Clinical Commissioning Groups—Disapplication of Responsibility) Regulations 2013 Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013 National Health Service (Direct Payments) Regulations 2013 Export Control (Syria Sanctions) Order 2013 Mesothelioma Act 2014 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Defence Reform Act 2014 Water Act 2014 Immigration Act 2014 Finance Act 2014 Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 Housing (Wales) Act 2014 Ukraine (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2014 Central African Republic (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2014 Ukraine (European Union Financial Sanctions) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 Criminal Justice (Electronic Monitoring) (Responsible Person) (No. 2) Order 2014 Offender Management Act 2007 (Approved Premises) Regulations 2014 Special Educational Needs (Personal Budgets) Regulations 2014 Sudan (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2014 Independent Educational Provision in England (Prohibition on Participation in Management) Regulations 2014 Ukraine (European Union Financial Sanctions) (No. 3) Regulations 2014 Export Control (Russia, Crimea and Sevastopol Sanctions) Order 2014 Care and Support (Direct Payments) Regulations 2014 Criminal Justice (European Protection Order) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 Yemen (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2014 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 Serious Crime Act 2015 Recall of MPs Act 2015 Modern Slavery Act 2015 Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 State Pension Regulations 2015 National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Criminal Courts Charge) Regulations 2015 Electricity and Gas (Market Integrity and Transparency) (Criminal Sanctions) Regulations 2015 Homelessness (Intentionality) (Specified Categories) (Wales) Regulations 2015 South Sudan (European Union Financial Sanctions) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 Children (Secure Accommodation) (Wales) Regulations 2015 Export Control (Democratic Republic of Congo Sanctions and Miscellaneous Amendments and Revocations) Order 2015 Burundi (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2015 Care and Support (Direct Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2015 Payment Card Interchange Fee Regulations 2015 Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 Immigration Act 2016 Investigatory Powers Act 2016 Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2016 Libya (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2016 Export Control (Iran Sanctions) Order 2016 Export Control (Libya Sanctions) Order 2016 Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 Childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge) (Extended Entitlement) Regulations 2016 Criminal Justice (Electronic Monitoring) (Responsible Person) (No. 2) Order 2016 Policing and Crime Act 2017 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2017 Bereavement Support Payment Regulations 2017 Payment Services Regulations 2017 Republic of Mali (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2017 Criminal Justice (Electronic Monitoring) (Responsible Person) Order 2017 Venezuela (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2017 Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (England) Regulations 2017 Finance Act 2017 Digital Economy Act 2017 Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 Space Industry Act 2018 Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 Ivory Act 2018 Export Control (Venezuela Sanctions) Order 2018 Export Control (North Korea Sanctions) Order 2018 Nuclear Security (Secretary of State Security Directions) Regulations 2018 Burma (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2018 Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement) (Prescription of Arrangement for Monitoring) Order 2018 Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Wales) Regulations 2018 Childcare (Disqualification) and Childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge) (Extended Entitlement) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 Republic of Maldives (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2018 Social Workers Regulations 2018 Export Control (Burma Sanctions) (No. 2) Order 2018 Chemical Weapons (Asset-Freezing) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018 Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 Stalking Protection Act 2019 Offensive Weapons Act 2019 Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Burma (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 South Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida (United Nations Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Zimbabwe (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Cyber-Attacks (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2019 Burundi (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Guinea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Nicaragua (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2019 Turkey (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2019 Coronavirus Act 2020 Andrey Lugovoy and Dmitri Kovtun Freezing Order 2020 Release of Prisoners (Alteration of Relevant Proportion of Sentence) Order 2020 Cyber (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Lebanon (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Lebanon (Sanctions) (Assassination of Rafiq Hariri and others) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Somalia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 See § Repealed enactments
Amended by	Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Elections Act 2022 Public Order Act 2023 National Security Act 2023 Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 Online Safety Act 2023 Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 Employment Rights Act 2025 Sentencing Act 2026 National Security (State Threats) Act 2026
Status: Amended
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Sentencing Act 2020 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Sentencing Act 2020 is a landmark act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act has 14 Parts and 29 Schedules. Parts 2 to 13 of the act together make up a code called the “Sentencing Code”. The Sentencing Code is the law which contains the main sentencing regime in England and Wales.