Sentencing Bill: Third Reading

This Bill makes sentencing reforms in line with the recommendations made by the Independent Sentencing Review.

There were four amendments selected for debate and votes:

New Clause 1, introduces a presumption to suspend short custodial sentences of 12 months or less, unless an offender has breached an order of the court, or where there is a significant risk of harm to an individual, or in exceptional circumstances which would not justify passing a suspended sentence: 170 Ayes, 328 Noes.

New Clause 12, Clauses 12 introduce a new ‘Probation Requirement’ which will replace the Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and introduce changes to provide probation practitioners with more flexibility to align engagement with an individual’s risks and needs: 82 Ayes, 314 Noes. 

New Clause 19, introduces a statutory obligation on the Sentencing Council to obtain approval from both the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice for all sentencing guidelines before final, definitive guidelines are issued: 173 Ayes, 323 Noes.

New Clause 20, sets standard determinate sentence (SDS) release points to enhance sentencing transparency and simplify sentence administration and sits alongside secondary legislation to strengthen the adjudication system for managing bad behaviour: 182 Ayes, 311 Noes.

The Bill passed its Third Reading on 29 October 2025 with Ayes: 321 Noes: 103.