Sentencing Act 2020

Reference back to court for review of sentence E+W

387 Failure by offender to provide agreed assistance: review of sentence E+W

(1) This section applies if—

(a) the Crown Court has passed a sentence on an offender in respect of an offence,

(b) the sentence (“the original sentence”) is a discounted sentence in consequence of the offender's having offered in pursuance of a written agreement to give assistance to the prosecutor or investigator of an offence, and

(c) the offender knowingly fails to any extent to give assistance in accordance with the agreement.

(2) A specified prosecutor may at any time refer the case back to the Crown Court if—

(a) the offender is still serving the original sentence, and

(b) the specified prosecutor thinks it is in the interests of justice to do so.

(3) A case so referred must, if possible, be heard by the judge who passed the sentence to which the referral relates.

(4) If the court is satisfied that the offender knowingly failed to give the assistance it may substitute for the original sentence a sentence that is—

(a) greater than the original sentence, but

(b) not greater than the sentence which it would have passed but for the agreement mentioned in subsection (1)(b) (“the original maximum”).

(5) Subsections (6) to (9) apply where a sentence is substituted under subsection (4).

(6) Where the substitute sentence is less than the original maximum, the court must state in open court—

(a) that fact, and

(b) the original maximum.

This is subject to subsection (8).

(7) Section 52(2) or, as the case may be, 322(4) (requirement to explain reasons for sentence or other order) applies where a substitute sentence is imposed under subsection (4) unless—

(a) the court considers that it is not in the public interest to disclose that the original sentence was a discounted sentence, or

(b) subsection (8) provides otherwise.

(8) Where the substitute sentence is less than the original maximum and the court considers that it would not be in the public interest to disclose that fact—

(a) subsection (6) does not apply;

(b) the court must give a written statement of the matters specified in subsection (6)(a) and (b) to—

(i) the prosecutor, and

(ii) the offender;

(c) section 52(2) or, as the case may be, 322(4) does not apply to the extent that the explanation would disclose that the substitute sentence is less than the original maximum.

(9) Any part of the original sentence which the offender has already served must be taken into account in determining when the substitute sentence has been served.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 387 in force at 1.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

388 Review of sentence following subsequent agreement for assistance by offender E+W

(1) A case is eligible for review under this section if—

(a) the Crown Court has passed a sentence on an offender in respect of an offence,

(b) the offender is still serving the sentence, and

(c) pursuant to a written agreement subsequently made with a specified prosecutor, the offender has assisted or offered to assist the investigator or prosecutor of any offence,

but this is subject to subsection (2).

(2) A case is not eligible for review under this section if—

(a) the sentence was discounted and the offender has not given the assistance offered in accordance with the written agreement by virtue of which it was discounted, or

(b) the offence was one for which the sentence was fixed by law and the offender did not plead guilty to it.

(3) A specified prosecutor may at any time refer a case back to the Crown Court if—

(a) the case is eligible for review under this section, and

(b) the prosecutor considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

(4) A case so referred must, if possible, be heard by the judge who passed the sentence to which the referral relates.

(5) The court may—

(a) take into account the extent and nature of the assistance given or offered;

(b) substitute for the sentence to which the referral relates such lesser sentence as it thinks appropriate.

(6) Nothing in—

(a) any of the provisions listed in section 399(b) or (c) (minimum sentences in certain circumstances), or

(b) section 321 (and Schedule 21) (determination of minimum term in relation to mandatory life sentence),

affects the court's power under subsection (5).

(7) Subsections (8) to (11) apply where a sentence is substituted under subsection (5).

(8) The court must state in open court—

(a) the fact that the substitute sentence is a discounted sentence, and

(b) the original maximum.

This is subject to subsection (10).

(9) Section 52(2) or, as the case may be, 322(4) (requirement to explain reasons for sentence or other order) applies where a sentence is imposed under subsection (5).

But this is subject to subsection (10).

(10) Where the court considers that it would not be in the public interest to disclose that the substitute sentence is a discounted sentence —

(a) subsection (7) does not apply;

(b) the court must give a written statement of the matters specified in subsection (8)(a) and (b) to—

(i) the prosecutor, and

(ii) the offender;

(c) section 52(2) or, as the case may be, 322(4) does not apply to the extent that the explanation would disclose that the substitute sentence is a discounted sentence.

(11) Any part of the sentence to which the referral relates which the offender has already served must be taken into account in determining when the substitute sentence has been served.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 388 in force at 1.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2