§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ask the Sentencing Guidelines Council to frame guidelines in relation to the Computer Misuse Act 1990. [162413]
§ Caroline FlintThe Sentencing Guidelines Council was created by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and has a key role to play in improving consistency in sentencing. It will in due course consider guidelines in respect of all criminal offences.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent(a) representations he has received and (b) discussions he has had regarding (i) judicial awareness of and (ii) sentencing guidelines in relation to the Computer Misuse Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [162415]
§ Caroline FlintWe have not received any representations nor had any discussions with the judiciary in relation to the Computer Misuse Act 1990. However, changes will be made to section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to increase the penalty threshold, to allow for the effective punishment of all acts undertaken by hackers and others in committing this offence. This and other changes to the Act will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.