Publication of revised Sentencing Guidelines for Magistrates Courts
Following a period of consultation earlier this year (as detailed in the February edition of the Digest), the Sentencing Guidelines Council has published the revised Sentencing Guidelines for Magistrates Courts. The new guidelines are the first revision to the Guidelines since 2003.

Following a period of consultation earlier this year (as detailed in the February edition of the Digest), the Sentencing Guidelines Council has published the revised Sentencing Guidelines for Magistrates Courts. The new guidelines are the first revision to the Guidelines since 2003.
The guidelines:
- Deal with a greater number of offences.
- Provide more detailed and clear advice on a range of issues such as compensation for personal injury, loss or damage suffered by victims, sentencing for road traffic offences, and the range and availability of ancillary orders.
- Include both starting points and ranges into which sentences should usually fall in order to enhance consistency in sentencing in Magistrates Courts.
- Give Magistrates and District Judges additional guidance on the setting of fines, including dealing with offenders on low incomes.
- Provide guidance on the approach to offences committed for commercial purposes when calculating fines.
The guidelines will come into effect on August 4, 2008. Copies have been sent to every District Judge, magistrate and legal adviser prior to implementation. Copies are also to be sent to every Crown Court Centre.
The Judicial Studies Board is developing an extensive training programme to support the implementation of the new guidelines.
The guidelines can be found in full at http://www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk/