Criminal Justice Act 2003

263 Concurrent terms E+W

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a person (“the offender”) has been sentenced F1 . . . to two or more terms of imprisonment which are wholly or partly concurrent, and

(b) the sentences were passed on the same occasion or, where they were passed on different occasions, the person has not been released under this Chapter at any time during the period beginning with the first and ending with the last of those occasions.

(2) Where this section applies—

(a) nothing in this Chapter requires the Secretary of State to release the offender in respect of any of the terms unless and until he is required to release him in respect of each of the others,

[F2 (aza) nothing in this Chapter requires the Secretary of State to refer the offender’s case to the Board in respect of any of the terms unless and until the Secretary of State is required either—

(i) to refer the offender’s case to the Board, or

(ii) to release the offender,

in respect of each of the others,]

[F3 (aa) the offender's release is to be unconditional if section 243A so requires in respect of each of the sentences (and in any other case is to be on licence),]

(b) [F4 section 246] does not authorise the Secretary of State to release him on licence under that section in respect of any of the terms unless and until that section authorises the Secretary of State to do so in respect of each of the others [F5 to which that section applies],

(c) on and after his release under this Chapter [F6 (unless that release is unconditional)] the offender is to be on licence[F7 —

(i) until the last date on which the offender is required to be on licence in respect of any of the terms, and

(ii) subject to such conditions as are] required by this Chapter in respect of any of the sentences.

[F8 (2A) Where this section applies, nothing in section 260 authorises the Secretary of State to remove the offender from prison in respect of any of the terms unless and until that section authorises the Secretary of State to do so in respect of each of the others.]

F9 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) In this section “term of imprisonment” includes a determinate sentence of detention under section 91 [F10 or 96] of [F11 the PCC(S)A 2000, under section 250, [F12 252A,] 254, 262, 265 [F13 , 266 or 268A] of the Sentencing Code] or under section [F14 226A, 226B,] [F15 227 ] [F16 , 228 or 236A] of this Act.

[F17 (5) This section is subject to paragraphs 21, 31 and 32 of Schedule 20B (transitional cases).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 263(1)(a) repealed (28.3.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378, 383, Sch. 16 para. 226, Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F2 S. 263(2)(aza) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 144(9), 208(5)(p)

F3 S. 263(2)(aa) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 13(a); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l)

F4 Words in s. 263(2)(b) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 116(8), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)

F5 Words in s. 263(2)(b) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 13(b); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l)

F6 Words in s. 263(2)(c) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 13(c); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l)

F7 Words in s. 263(2)(c) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 116(9), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)

F8 S. 263(2A) inserted (28.6.2022 for E.W.) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 47(10), 87(1); S.I. 2022/590, regs. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 24 (with Sch. 2 para. 9)

F9 S. 263(3) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 10 para. 31; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(h)

F10 Words in s. 263(4) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 117(7)(a), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)

F11 Words in s. 263(4) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 235 (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F12 Word in s. 263(4) inserted (30.4.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(1)(i), Sch. 13 para. 21(7)

F13 Words in s. 263(4) substituted (29.6.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(v), Sch. 13 para. 9(9)

F14 Words in s. 263(4) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 20 para. 11; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(r)

F15 Words in s. 263(4) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 117(7)(b), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)

F16 Words in s. 263(4) substituted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 1 para. 22; S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 72

F17 S. 263(5) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 17 para. 7; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(o)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 263 wholly in force at 4.4.2005; s. 263 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 336(3); s. 263 in force for certain purposes at 26.1.2004 by S.I. 2003/3282, art. 2, Sch.; s. 263 in force in so far as not already in force at 4.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 19 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2)