Forthcoming guidelines - Sentencing Council

Forthcoming guidelines

Drug offences definitive guideline

Following a 12 week consultation the Sentencing Council is publishing its new definitive guideline on drug offences, which has been issued in accordance with section 120 (4) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.   The guideline covers the following offences; importation, supply, production, permitting premises to be used and possession.

This guideline on drug offences applies to all offenders aged 18 and over regardless of the date of their offence and comes into effect from 27 February 2012.

This replaces the guidelines for the above offences in the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines, with effect from 27 February 2012.

In order to encourage a consistent approach to sentencing the same guideline will be applicable to both the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts. The guideline has however, been produced in two different versions to fit within existing formats for judges and magistrates.

Drug offences definitive guideline – Crown Court

Drug offences definitive guideline – Magistrates’ Courts

Full version of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines incorporating Update 6

All sentencers will receive hard copies of the guideline as soon as possible.

We are also publishing a response to the consultation which summarises some of the very useful feedback and comments we received. We have greatly benefited from the consultation process and have improved some of the detail of the guideline in response to comments received.

Drug offences guideline – Response to the consultation

A revised resource assessment have also been produced to support the definitive guideline.

Drug offences definitive guideline – Resource assessment

A research bulletin looking at the effects of the draft drug offences guideline on sentencing practice has also been produced. All research and analysis publications can be found here.

A press release is also available.

via sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk