Sentencing Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments

The Bill returned to the Commons from the Lords. It will make sentencing reforms in line with the recommendations made by the Independent Sentencing Review in May 2025. Chapter Five of the review -‘Taking a victim-centred approach’ recommended that the Government continues the provision of free copies of judge’s sentencing remarks to victims of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences.

Lords Amendment 7 would have required a  Judge of the Crown Court to approve the release of sentencing remarks.

There was a motion to disagree with this amendment, which passed: Ayes 319, Noes 127.

The Government’s motion in lieu of the Lords amendment, to create a statutory right for victims to obtain free transcripts of sentencing remarks within 14 days, passed without division.