HC Deb 10 June 2002 vol 386 cc797-8W
25. Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for a guideline body to encourage consistency in sentencing; and how it will interact with the Sentencing Advisory Panel. [57072]

Hilary Benn

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained, in his address to the Justices' Clerks Society Conference in Cardiff on 7 May 2002, that it is the Government's intention to set up a sentencing guidelines body. This new body would seek to improve consistency in sentences for offences across the board in a way that is authoritative, comprehensive and that all the courts would be required to take account of.

The new body will be supported by the Sentencing Advisory Panel and will build on the work already done by the Court of Appeal (assisted by the Sentencing Advisory Panel) and the Magistrates' Courts Sentencing Guidelines.

We will set out our proposals on sentencing in a wider Criminal Justice White Paper due for publication later this year.

36. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the police on sentencing policy. [57083]

Hilary Benn

The publication of the Halliday report on "Making Punishments Work" was subject to public consultation. Nine police forces responded and were generally supportive of the proposals. The consolidated response from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in particular supported the case for sentencing reform and considered that the proposals met in large measure the submissions that ACPO had made. Responses to the consultation were published. ACPO is quoted as sayingThe entire system including the courts must bear down on the recidivist".

27. Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his action on guidance for magistrates on sentencing. [57074]

Hilary Benn

Following the recommendation of the review on the Sentencing Framework, we intend to set up a sentencing guidelines body. This new body would seek to improve consistency in sentences for offences across the board in a way that is authoritative, comprehensive and that all the courts would be required to take account of. Decisions in individual cases will of course continue to take account of individual circumstances.

The new body will be supported by the Sentencing Advisory Panel and will build on the work that has been done by those responsible for the Magistrates' Court sentencing guidelines.

We will set out our proposals on sentencing in a wider Criminal Justice White Paper due for publication later this year.

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