Sentencing Act 2020

Type Public General Act
Publication 2020-10-22
Last updated 2026-07-25
State In force
Department Statute Law Database
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  • (2) Section 48 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (attempts, conspiracy etc) applies for the purposes of this paragraph as if the reference in subsection (3)(b) of that section to any of the following provisions of that Act were a reference to this paragraph.

PART 3 — Offences under the law of Scotland or Northern Ireland

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A civilian offence for which the person was convicted in Scotland or Northern Ireland and which, if committed in England and Wales at the time of the conviction, would have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 of this Schedule.

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Part 3A — PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED BEFORE IP COMPLETION DAY: OFFENCES UNDER THE LAW OF A MEMBER STATE

20A

A civilian offence for which the person was convicted in a member State and which, if committed in England and Wales at the time of the conviction, would have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 of this Schedule.

20B

A member State service offence which, if committed in England and Wales at the time of the conviction, would have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 of this Schedule.

PART 4 — Interpretation

21

In this Schedule “imprisonment for life” includes custody for life and detention for life.

22

In this Schedule—

  • “civilian offence” means an offence other than an offence described in Part 2 of this Schedule or a member state service offence;
  • “member State service offence” means an offence which was the subject of proceedings under the law of a member State governing all or any of the naval, military or air forces of that state.

SCHEDULE 15 — Life sentence for second offence: listed offences

PART 1 — Offences under the law of England and Wales

The following offences to the extent that they are offences under the law of England and Wales—

Offence Specified date Specified date
Manslaughter Manslaughter Manslaughter
1 Manslaughter 3 December 2012
Offences against the Person Act 1861 Offences against the Person Act 1861 Offences against the Person Act 1861
2 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Offences against the Person Act 1861—
2 (a) section 4 (soliciting murder) 3 December 2012
2 (b) section 18 (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm) 3 December 2012
2 (c) section 28 (causing bodily injury by explosives) 13 April 2015
2 (d) section 29 (using explosives etc with intent to do grievous bodily harm) 13 April 2015
Explosive Substances Act 1883 Explosive Substances Act 1883 Explosive Substances Act 1883
3 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Explosive Substances Act 1883—
3 (a) section 2 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property) 13 April 2015
3 (b) section 3 (attempt to cause explosion, or making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property) 13 April 2015
3 (c) section 4 (making or possession of explosive under suspicious circumstances) 13 April 2015
Firearms Act 1968 Firearms Act 1968 Firearms Act 1968
4 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Firearms Act 1968—
4 (a) section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life) 3 December 2012
4 (b) section 17(1) (use of a firearm to resist arrest) 3 December 2012
4 (c) section 18 (carrying a firearm with criminal intent) 3 December 2012
Theft Act 1968 Theft Act 1968 Theft Act 1968
5 An offence of robbery under section 8 of the Theft Act 1968 (robbery) where, at some time during the commission of the offence, the offender had in his or her possession a firearm or an imitation firearm within the meaning of the Firearms Act 1968 3 December 2012
Protection of Children Act 1978 Protection of Children Act 1978 Protection of Children Act 1978
6 An offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (indecent images of children) 3 December 2012
Terrorism Act 2000 Terrorism Act 2000 Terrorism Act 2000
7 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000—
7 (a) section 54 (weapons training) 13 April 2015
7 (b) section 56 (directing terrorist organisation) 3 December 2012
7 (c) section 57 (possession of article for terrorist purposes) 3 December 2012
7 (d) section 59 (inciting terrorism overseas) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
8 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001—
8 (a) section 47 (use etc of nuclear weapons) 3 December 2012
8 (b) section 50 (assisting or inducing certain weapons-related acts overseas) 3 December 2012
8 (c) section 113 (use of noxious substance or thing to cause harm or intimidate) 3 December 2012
Sexual Offences Act 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003
9 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003—
9 (a) section 1 (rape) 3 December 2012
9 (b) section 2 (assault by penetration) 3 December 2012
9 (c) section 4 (causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
9 (d) section 5 (rape of a child under 13) 3 December 2012
9 (e) section 6 (assault of a child under 13 by penetration) 3 December 2012
9 (f) section 7 (sexual assault of a child under 13) 3 December 2012
9 (g) section 8 (causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity) 3 December 2012
9 (h) section 9 (sexual activity with a child) 3 December 2012
9 (i) section 10 (causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity) 3 December 2012
9 (j) section 11 (engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child) 3 December 2012
9 (k) section 12 (causing a child to watch a sexual act) 3 December 2012
9 (l) section 14 (arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence) 3 December 2012
9 (m) section 15 (meeting a child following sexual grooming etc) 3 December 2012
9 (n) section 25 (sexual activity with a child family member) if the offender is aged 18 or over at the time of the offence 3 December 2012
9 (o) section 26 (inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity) if the offender is aged 18 or over at the time of the offence 3 December 2012
9 (p) section 30 (sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
9 (q) section 31 (causing or inciting a person with a mental disorder to engage in sexual activity) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
9 (r) section 34 (inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
9 (s) section 35 (causing a person with a mental disorder to engage in or agree to engage in sexual activity by inducement etc) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
9 (t) section 47 (paying for sexual services of a child) if the offence is against a person aged under 16 3 December 2012
9 (u) section 48 (causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child) 3 December 2012
9 (v) section 49 (controlling a child in relation to sexual exploitation) 3 December 2012
9 (w) section 50 (arranging or facilitating sexual exploitation of a child) 3 December 2012
9 (x) section 62 (committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life 3 December 2012
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
10 An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult) 3 December 2012
Terrorism Act 2006 Terrorism Act 2006 Terrorism Act 2006
11 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Terrorism Act 2006—
11 (a) section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (preparation of terrorist acts) 3 December 2012
11 (b) section 6 (training for terrorism) 13 April 2015
11 (c) section 9 (making or possession of radioactive device or materials) 3 December 2012
11 (d) section 10 (misuse of radioactive devices or material and misuse and damage of facilities) 3 December 2012
11 (e) section 11 (terrorist threats relating to radioactive devices, materials or facilities) 3 December 2012
Modern Slavery Act 2015 Modern Slavery Act 2015 Modern Slavery Act 2015
12 An offence under either of the following provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015—
12 (a) section 1 (slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour) 31 July 2015
12 (b) section 2 of that Act (human trafficking) 31 July 2015
Inchoate offences Inchoate offences Inchoate offences
14 An inchoate offence (see section 398) in relation to an offence specified in any of the preceding paragraphs of this Part of this Schedule (a “relevant offence”) The date specified for the relevant offence
15 An inchoate offence in relation to murder 3 December 2012

PART 2 — Further offences under the law of England and Wales

The following offences to the extent that they are offences under the law of England and Wales—

16

Murder.

17

Any offence that—

  • (a) was abolished (with or without savings) before 3 December 2012, and
  • (b) would, if committed when the index offence was committed, have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 of this Schedule.

PART 3 — Offences under service law

18

An offence under section 70 of the Army Act 1955, section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 or section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 as respects which the corresponding civil offence (within the meaning of the Act in question) is an offence specified in Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule.

19
  • (1) An offence under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales (within the meaning given by that section) is an offence specified in Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule.
  • (2) Section 48 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (attempts, conspiracy etc) applies for the purposes of this paragraph as if the reference in subsection (3)(b) of that section to any of the following provisions of that Act were a reference to this paragraph.

PART 4 — Offences under the law of Scotland or Northern Ireland

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A civilian offence for which the person was convicted in Scotland or Northern Ireland and which, if committed in England and Wales at the time of the conviction, would have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule.

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Part 4A — PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED BEFORE IP COMPLETION DAY: OFFENCES UNDER THE LAW OF A MEMBER STATE

23A

If the proceedings for the index offence were instituted before IP completion day (see section 397(5))—

  • (a) a civilian offence for which the person was convicted in a member State and which, if committed in England and Wales at the time of the conviction, would have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule;
  • (b) a member State service offence which, if committed in England and Wales at the time of the conviction, would have constituted an offence specified in Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule.
23B

Where the index offence was committed before 13 April 2015, this Part of this Schedule has effect—

  • (a) as if, in paragraph 23A, the reference to a civilian offence were to an offence, and
  • (b) with the omission of paragraphs 23A(b).

PART 5 — Interpretation

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  • (1) In this Schedule—
  • “civilian offence” means an offence other than an offence described in Part 2 of this Schedule or a member state service offence;
  • “imprisonment for life” includes custody for life and detention for life;
  • “index offence” has the same meaning as in section 273 or 283 (as appropriate).
  • “member State service offence” means an offence which was the subject of proceedings under the law of a member State governing all or any of the naval, military or air forces of that state.
  • (2) The references in Part 1 of this Schedule to offences under sections 48, 49 and 50 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 include references to offences under those sections as they had effect before the amendments made by section 68 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (child sexual exploitation) came into force.

SCHEDULE 16 — Breach or amendment of suspended sentence order, and effect of further conviction

PART 1 — Preliminary

Interpretation: general

1
  • (1) In this Schedule, in relation to a suspended sentence order—
  • “activation order” has the meaning given by paragraph 14(1);
  • “the appropriate court” means—in the case of a suspended sentence order which is subject to review, the court responsible for the order,in the case of a Crown Court order, the Crown Court, andin any other case, a magistrates' court acting in the local justice area for the time being specified in the order.
  • (2) In this Schedule, in relation to a community order, any reference (however expressed) to breach of a requirement of the order is a reference to any failure of the offender to comply with a requirement imposed by the order.

Enforcement officers

2
  • (1) In this Schedule “enforcement officer” means a person who is for the time being responsible for discharging the functions conferred by this Schedule on an enforcement officer in accordance with arrangements made by the Secretary of State.
  • (2) An enforcement officer must be an officer of a provider of probation services that is a public sector provider.
  • (3) For this purpose, “public sector provider” means—
  • (a) a probation trust or other public body, or
  • (b) the Secretary of State.

“Order subject to magistrates' court supervision” and “Crown Court order”

3

In this Schedule—

  • “order subject to magistrates' court supervision” means a suspended sentence order that imposes any community requirement which—was made by a magistrates' court, orwas made by the Crown Court and includes a direction that any breach of a community requirement of the order is to be dealt with by a magistrates' court;
  • “Crown Court order” means a suspended sentence order that imposes any community requirement which—was made by the Crown Court, anddoes not include a direction that any breach of a community requirement of the order is to be dealt with by a magistrates' court.

Orders and community requirements which are subject to review

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  • (1) For the purposes of this Schedule, a suspended sentence order is subject to review if—
  • (a) the order is subject to review in accordance with section 293(1) or 293A(1), or
  • (b) the order imposes a drug rehabilitation requirement which is subject to review in accordance with paragraph 21 of Schedule 9.
  • (2) In this Schedule, a reference to the court responsible for a suspended sentence order which is subject to review is to the responsible court within the meaning given—
  • (a) in section 293(4) or 293A(3), or
  • (b) in paragraph 21(4) of Schedule 9,

(as the case may be).

Orders made on appeal

5

A suspended sentence order made on appeal is to be taken for the purposes of this Schedule to have been made by the Crown Court.

PART 2 — Breach of community requirement or conviction of further offence

Breach of community requirement: duty to give warning or refer to enforcement officer

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  • (1) This paragraph applies where the responsible officer is of the opinion that the offender has without reasonable excuse breached a community requirement of a suspended sentence order.
  • (2) If the offender has been given a warning under this paragraph within the previous 12 months in relation to a breach of any community requirement of the order, the officer must refer the matter to an enforcement officer.
  • (3) Otherwise the officer must either—
  • (a) give the offender a warning under this paragraph, or
  • (b) refer the matter to an enforcement officer.
  • (4) A warning under this paragraph must—
  • (a) describe the circumstances of the breach,
  • (b) state that the breach is unacceptable, and
  • (c) inform the offender that if the offender again breaches a requirement of the order within the next 12 months, the offender will be liable to be brought before a court.
  • (5) As soon as practicable after giving a warning under this paragraph, the responsible officer must record that fact.

Role of enforcement officer

7

Where a matter is referred to an enforcement officer under paragraph 6, the enforcement officer must—

  • (a) consider the case, and
  • (b) where appropriate, cause an information to be laid in respect of the offender's breach of the requirement—
  • (i) in the case of an order subject to magistrates' court supervision, before a justice of the peace;
  • (ii) in the case of a Crown Court order, before the Crown Court.

Order subject to magistrates' court supervision: issue of summons or warrant by justice

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  • (1) This paragraph applies where, during the supervision period of an order subject to magistrates' court supervision, it appears on information to a justice of the peace that the offender has breached any community requirement of the order.
  • (2) The justice may—
  • (a) issue a summons requiring the offender to appear at the place and time specified in it, or
  • (b) if the information is in writing and on oath, issue a warrant for the offender's arrest.
  • (3) A summons or warrant issued under this paragraph must direct the offender to appear or be brought—
  • (a) in the case of a suspended sentence order which is subject to review, before the court responsible for the order;
  • (b) in any other case, before a magistrates' court acting in—
  • (i) the local justice area in which the offender resides, or
  • (ii) if it is not known where the offender resides, in the offender's home local justice area.
  • (4) Where—
  • (a) a summons issued under this paragraph requires the offender to appear before a magistrates' court, and
  • (b) the offender does not appear in answer to the summons,

the magistrates' court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.

Crown Court order: issue of summons or warrant by Crown Court

9
  • (1) This paragraph applies where, during the supervision period of a Crown Court order, it appears on information to the Crown Court that the offender has breached any community requirement of the order.
  • (2) The Crown Court may—
  • (a) issue a summons requiring the offender to appear at the place and time specified in it, or
  • (b) if the information is in writing and on oath, issue a warrant for the offender's arrest.
  • (3) A summons or warrant issued under this paragraph must direct the offender to appear or be brought before the Crown Court.
  • (4) Where—
  • (a) a summons issued under this paragraph requires the offender to appear before the Crown Court, and
  • (b) the offender does not appear in answer to the summons,

the Crown Court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.

Issue of summons or warrant after review hearing in special procedure cases

9A
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) a suspended sentence order is subject to review in accordance with section 293A(1),
  • (b) on a review hearing under section 294(5) a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court (“the court”) is of the opinion that the offender has without reasonable excuse breached a community requirement of the order, and
  • (c) the court does not deal with the case forthwith under section 294(5).
  • (2) The court may at any time—
  • (a) issue a summons requiring the offender to appear at the place and time specified in it, or
  • (b) issue a warrant for the offender’s arrest.
  • (3) A summons or warrant issued under this paragraph must direct the offender to appear or be brought before the court which issued it.
  • (4) Where—
  • (a) a summons is issued under this paragraph, and
  • (b) the offender does not appear in answer to the summons,

the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.

Offender before magistrates' court: breach of community requirement

10
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) the offender is before a magistrates' court (“the present court”) in relation to a suspended sentence order by virtue of—
  • (i) paragraph 8 or 9A (breach of community requirement), or
  • (ii) section 294(5) (review), and
  • (b) it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the offender has breached a community requirement of the order without reasonable excuse.
  • (2) If the suspended sentence order was made by a magistrates' court, the present court must deal with the case under paragraph 13.
  • (3) If the suspended sentence order was made by the Crown Court, the present court must—
  • (a) deal with the case under paragraph 13, or
  • (b) commit the offender to custody or release the offender on bail until the offender can be brought or appear before the Crown Court.
  • (4) If the present court deals with the case under sub-paragraph (3)(b), it must send the Crown Court—
  • (a) a certificate signed by a justice of the peace certifying that the offender has breached the community requirements of the suspended sentence order in the respect specified in the certificate, and
  • (b) such other particulars of the case as may be desirable;

and a certificate purporting to be so signed is admissible as evidence of the breach before the Crown Court.

Offender before magistrates' court: further conviction

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  • (1) Where—
  • (a) an offender is convicted of an offence committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence order (and the suspended sentence has not already taken effect),
  • (b) the suspended sentence order was made by a magistrates' court, and
  • (c) the offender is before a magistrates' court (“the present court”), whether on conviction of that other offence or subsequently,

the present court must deal with the case under paragraph 13.

  • (2) Where an offender is convicted by a magistrates' court of any offence (“the new offence”) which the court is satisfied was committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence order made by the Crown Court, the court—
  • (a) may commit the offender in custody or on bail to the Crown Court, and
  • (b) if it does not, must give written notice of the conviction to the appropriate officer of the Crown Court.
  • (3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to the present court if it commits the offender to the Crown Court under section 20 (which confers power for magistrates' court to commit to Crown Court in certain circumstances in respect of the suspended sentence where it commits in respect of new offence) to be dealt with in respect of the suspended sentence order.
  • (4) Where a magistrates' court commits a person to the Crown Court under sub-paragraph (2)(a), any duty or power which, apart from this sub-paragraph, would fall to be discharged or exercised by the magistrates' court—
  • (a) is not to be discharged or exercised by that court, but
  • (b) is instead to be discharged or may instead be exercised by the Crown Court.

This does not apply to any duty imposed on a magistrates' court by section 25(1) or (2) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (duties relating to information).

Offender before Crown Court: breach of community requirement or further conviction

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  • (1) Where—
  • (a) an offender to whom a suspended sentence order relates is before the Crown Court, and
  • (b) sub-paragraph (2) or (3) applies,

the court must deal with the case under paragraph 13.

  • (2) This sub-paragraph applies where—
  • (a) the offender is before the Crown Court in relation to the order by virtue of—
  • (i) paragraph 9 or 9A (summons or warrant for breach of community requirement),
  • (ii) section 294(5) (review of order), or
  • (iii) paragraph 10(3)(b) (committal from magistrates' court), and
  • (b) it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the offender has breached a community requirement of the order without reasonable excuse.
  • (3) This sub-paragraph applies where the offender—
  • (a) has been convicted of an offence committed during the operational period of the suspended sentence order, and
  • (b) the suspended sentence has not taken effect.
  • (4) In proceedings before the Crown Court under this paragraph—
  • (a) any question whether the offender has breached a community requirement of the suspended sentence order, and
  • (b) any question whether the offender has been convicted during the operational period of the suspended sentence,

is to be determined by the court and not by the verdict of a jury.

Powers of court to deal with offender on breach of requirement or subsequent conviction

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  • (1) Where a court deals with a case under this paragraph, the court must deal with the offender in one of the following ways—
  • (a) the court may order that the suspended sentence is to take effect with its original term unaltered;
  • (b) the court may order that the suspended sentence is to take effect with the substitution for the original term of a lesser term;
  • (c) the court may order the offender to pay a fine of an amount not exceeding £2,500;
  • (d) in the case of a suspended sentence order that imposes one or more community requirements, the court may amend the order by doing any one or more of the following—
  • (i) imposing more onerous community requirements which the court could include if the offender had just been convicted by or before it of the offence in respect of which the order was made and it were then making the order,
  • (ii) subject to section 288(4), extending the supervision period, or
  • (iii) subject to section 288(2), extending the operational period;
  • (da) in a case where the suspended sentence order qualifies for special procedures for the purposes of this paragraph, the court is dealing with the case by virtue of paragraph 10 or 12(2) and the offender is aged 18 or over, the court may order the offender to be committed to prison for such period not exceeding 28 days as the court considers appropriate (but see also paragraph 13A);
  • (e) in the case of a suspended sentence order that does not impose any community requirement, the court may, subject to section 288(2), amend the order by extending the operational period.
  • (2) The criminal courts charge duty (see section 46) applies where—
  • (a) a magistrates' court deals with an offender under this paragraph by virtue of paragraph 10 (breach of community requirement), or
  • (b) the Crown Court deals with an offender under this paragraph by virtue of paragraph 12(2) (breach of community requirement).
  • (3) Where a court deals with an offender under sub-paragraph (1) in respect of a suspended sentence, the appropriate officer of the court must notify the appropriate officer of the court which passed the sentence of the method adopted.

Exercise of power in paragraph 13: duty to make activation order where not unjust

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  • (1) Where the court deals with the case under paragraph 13, it must make an order under paragraph 13(1)(a) or (b) (“an activation order”) unless it is of the opinion that it would be unjust to do so in view of all the circumstances, including the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (2).

Where it is of that opinion the court must state its reasons.

  • (2) The matters referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are—
  • (a) the extent to which the offender has complied with any community requirements of the suspended sentence order, ...
  • (b) in a case falling within paragraph 11 or 12(3) (conviction of further offence during operational period), the facts of the subsequent offence , and
  • (c) in a case where the suspended sentence order qualifies for special procedures for the purposes of paragraph 13(1)(da), the court is dealing with the case by virtue of paragraph 10 or 12(2) and the offender is aged 18 or over, the possibility of making an order under paragraph 13(1)(da).

Activation orders: further provision

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  • (1) This paragraph applies where a court makes an activation order relating to a suspended sentence.
  • (2) The activation order may provide for—
  • (a) the sentence to take effect immediately, or
  • (b) the term of the sentence to begin on the expiry of another custodial sentence passed on the offender.

This is subject to section 225 (restriction on consecutive sentences for released prisoners).

  • (3) For the purpose of any enactment conferring rights of appeal in criminal cases, each of the following orders is to be treated as a sentence passed on the offender by the court for the offence for which the suspended sentence was passed—
  • (a) the activation order;
  • (b) any order made by the court under section 46 (criminal courts charge duty) when making the activation order.
  • (4) In this paragraph “custodial sentence” includes a pre-Code custodial sentence (see section 222(4)).

Power under paragraph 13 to fine or amend community requirements: further provision

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  • (1) A fine imposed under paragraph 13(1)(c) is to be treated for the purposes of any enactment as being a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction.
  • (2) Paragraph 13(1)(d)(i) (power to impose more onerous requirements) is subject to any provision that applies to the court in making a suspended sentence order as if the court were making the order.

Power under paragraph 13(1)(da) to commit to prison: further provision

16A
  • (1) In the case of an offender under the age of 21—
  • (a) an order under paragraph 13(1)(da) must be for committal to a young offender institution instead of to prison, but
  • (b) the Secretary of State may from time to time direct that a person committed to a young offender institution by such an order is to be detained in a prison or remand centre instead.
  • (2) A person committed to prison or a young offender institution by an order under paragraph 13(1)(da) is to be regarded as being in legal custody.
  • (3) No more than three orders under paragraph 13(1)(da) may be made in relation to the same suspended sentence order.

Treatment requirement: reasonable refusal to undergo certain treatment

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  • (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where the offender—
  • (a) is required by a treatment requirement of a suspended sentence order to submit to treatment, and
  • (b) has refused to undergo any surgical, electrical or other treatment.
  • (2) The offender is not to be treated for the purposes of paragraph 10(1)(b) or 12(2)(b) as having breached that requirement on the ground only of that refusal if, in the opinion of the court, the refusal was reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.
  • (3) In this paragraph, “treatment requirement” means—
  • (a) a mental health treatment requirement,
  • (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement, or
  • (c) an alcohol treatment requirement.

Duty of court in Scotland or Northern Ireland when informed of suspended sentence

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Where—

  • (a) an offender is convicted in Scotland or Northern Ireland of an offence, and
  • (b) the court is informed that the offence was committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence passed in England or Wales,

the court must give written notice of the conviction to the appropriate officer of the court by which the suspended sentence was passed.

Issue of summons or warrant where court convicting of further offence does not deal with suspended sentence

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  • (1) This paragraph applies where it appears to the Crown Court that an offender—
  • (a) has been convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence order passed by the Crown Court, and
  • (b) has not been dealt with in respect of the suspended sentence.
  • (2) The Crown Court may issue—
  • (a) a summons requiring the offender to appear at the place and time specified in it, or
  • (b) a warrant for the offender's arrest.
  • (3) A summons or warrant issued under this paragraph must direct the offender to appear or be brought before the Crown Court.
20
  • (1) This paragraph applies where it appears to a justice of the peace that an offender—
  • (a) has been convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence passed by a magistrates' court acting in the same local justice area as the justice, and
  • (b) has not been dealt with in respect of the suspended sentence.
  • (2) The justice may issue—
  • (a) a summons requiring the offender to appear at the place and time specified in it, or
  • (b) a warrant for the offender's arrest.

This is subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4).

  • (3) Unless acting in consequence of a notice under paragraph 18 (conviction in Scotland or Northern Ireland), a justice—
  • (a) may not issue a summons under this paragraph except on information, and
  • (b) may not issue a warrant under this paragraph except on information in writing and on oath.
  • (4) A summons or warrant issued under this paragraph must direct the offender to appear or be brought before the court by which the suspended sentence was passed.

PART 3 — Amendment of order

Application of Part

21

This Part of this Schedule applies during the supervision period of a suspended sentence order that imposes one or more community requirements.

Cancellation of community requirements of suspended sentence order

22
  • (1) This paragraph applies where an application is made to the appropriate court by—
  • (a) the offender, or
  • (b) an officer of a provider of probation services,

for the community requirements of the suspended sentence order to be cancelled.

  • (2) If it appears to the court to be in the interests of justice to do so, having regard to circumstances which have arisen since the order was made, the court may cancel the community requirements of the suspended sentence order.
  • (3) The circumstances in which community requirements of the order may be cancelled under sub-paragraph (2) include the offender's—
  • (a) making good progress, or
  • (b) responding satisfactorily to supervision.
  • (4) No application may be made under this paragraph while an appeal against the suspended sentence is pending.

Termination of supervision period

22A
  • (1) This paragraph applies if—
  • (a) the suspended sentence order does not contain provision for review within the meaning of section 293A (review of suspended sentence order qualifying for special procedures),
  • (b) in a case where the order imposes a probation requirement, the responsible officer does not consider that it is necessary to give any further instructions to the offender pursuant to that requirement,
  • (c) in a case where the order imposes one or more other community requirements listed in section 287 (whether or not it also imposes a probation requirement), the offender has complied with each of those other requirements, and
  • (d) in a case where a sentence plan has been prepared for the offender, the responsible officer—
  • (i) considers that the offender has met the objectives set out in the plan, and
  • (ii) does not consider that it is necessary to add to those objectives.
  • (2) The supervision period terminates on the date specified by the responsible officer to the offender.
  • (3) In this paragraph “sentence plan”, in relation to an offender to whom a suspended sentence order relates, means a plan prepared by the responsible officer which sets out—
  • (a) the community requirements imposed by the order,
  • (b) any objectives to be met by the offender for the purposes of the order, and
  • (c) how the offender—
  • (i) will comply with those requirements, and
  • (ii) will meet any such objectives.
  • (4) If section 39 of the Sentencing Act 2026 (which inserted this paragraph) comes into force before section 13 of that Act, the references in sub-paragraph (1) to a probation requirement are to be read, until that section comes into force, as references to a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Amendment because of change of residence

23
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) the offender is given permission under section 302 to change residence, and
  • (b) the local justice area in which the new residence is situated (“the new local justice area”) is different from the offender's home local justice area.
  • (2) If the permission is given by a court, the court must amend the suspended sentence order to specify the new local justice area as the offender's home local justice area.
  • (3) If the permission is given by the responsible officer—
  • (a) the officer must give notice to the appropriate court of the permission, and
  • (b) the court must amend the order as set out in sub-paragraph (2).
24
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) a court amends the suspended sentence order,
  • (b) the order as amended includes a residence requirement requiring the offender to reside at a specified place, and
  • (c) the local justice area in which that place is situated (“the new local justice area”) is different from the offender's home local justice area.
  • (2) The court must amend the order to specify the new local justice area.

Amendment because of variation of curfew requirement by responsible officer

24A
  • (1) This paragraph applies where at any time the responsible officer gives—
  • (a) a copy of a variation notice in relation to a suspended sentence order, and
  • (b) evidence of the offender’s consent to the notice,

to the appropriate court under paragraph 10A of Schedule 9.

  • (2) The appropriate court must amend the order to reflect the effect of the variation notice.

Amendment of community requirements of suspended sentence order

25
  • (1) The appropriate court may, on the application of the offender or an officer of a provider of probation services, amend any community requirement of the suspended sentence order—
  • (a) by cancelling the requirement, or
  • (b) by replacing it with a requirement of the same kind, which the court could include if the offender had just been convicted by or before it of the offence in respect of which the order was made and it were then making the order.
  • (2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)—
  • (a) a requirement falling within any entry in the table in section 287 is of the same kind as any other requirement falling within that entry, and
  • (b) an electronic compliance monitoring requirement is a requirement of the same kind as any requirement within that table to which it relates.
  • (3) Sub-paragraph (1)(b) is subject to any provision that applies to the court in making a suspended sentence order as if the court were making the order.
  • (4) No application may be made under this paragraph while an appeal against the suspended sentence is pending, other than an application which—
  • (a) relates to a treatment requirement, and
  • (b) is made by an officer of a provider of probation services with the offender's consent.
  • (5) Before exercising its powers under this paragraph, the court must summon the offender to appear before the court, unless—
  • (a) the application was made by the offender, or
  • (b) the order would cancel a community requirement of the suspended sentence order.
  • (6) If the offender fails to appear in answer to a summons under sub-paragraph (5) the court may issue a warrant for the offender's arrest.
  • (7) If the offender fails to express willingness to comply with a treatment requirement as proposed to be amended under this paragraph, the court may—
  • (a) revoke—
  • (i) the suspended sentence order, and
  • (ii) the suspended sentence to which it relates, and
  • (b) re-sentence the offender for the offence in respect of which the suspended sentence was imposed.
  • (8) In dealing with the offender under sub-paragraph (7)(b), the court must take into account the extent to which the offender has complied with the requirements of the order.
  • (9) In this paragraph “treatment requirement” means—
  • (a) a mental health treatment requirement,
  • (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement, or
  • (c) an alcohol treatment requirement.

Amendment of treatment requirement on report of practitioner

26
  • (1) This paragraph applies where the suspended sentence order contains a treatment requirement under which the offender is being treated and the treatment practitioner—
  • (a) is of the opinion that—
  • (i) the treatment of the offender should be continued beyond the period specified in that behalf in the order,
  • (ii) the offender needs different treatment,
  • (iii) the offender is not susceptible to treatment, or
  • (iv) the offender does not require further treatment, or
  • (b) is for any reason unwilling to continue to treat or direct the treatment of the offender.
  • (2) The treatment practitioner must make a report in writing to that effect to the responsible officer.
  • (3) The responsible officer must cause an application to be made under paragraph 25 to the appropriate court for the requirement to be replaced or cancelled.
  • (4) For the purposes of this paragraph—
  • (a) “treatment requirement” means—
  • (i) a mental health treatment requirement,
  • (ii) a drug rehabilitation requirement, or
  • (iii) an alcohol treatment requirement;
  • (b) the treatment practitioner is—
  • (i) the person specified in the order as the person by whom, or under whose direction, the offender is being treated in pursuance of the requirement, or
  • (ii) in the case of a mental health treatment requirement, if no such person is specified, the person by whom, or under whose direction, the offender is being treated in pursuance of the requirement.

...

27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 4 — Supplementary

Provision of copies of orders etc

28
  • (1) This paragraph applies on the making by a court of an order under this Schedule amending or revoking a suspended sentence order.
  • (2) The court must provide copies of the amending or revoking order to—
  • (a) the offender, and
  • (b) the responsible officer.
  • (3) In the case of an amending order which substitutes a new local justice area as the offender's home local justice area, the court must also provide a copy of the amending order to—
  • (a) a provider of probation services that is a public sector provider operating in that area, and
  • (b) the magistrates' court acting in that area.
  • (4) In the case of an amending order which imposes or amends a requirement specified in column 1 of the following table, the court must also provide the person specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 with a copy of so much of the amending order as relates to that requirement.
The requirement The person to whom a copy must be provided
An exclusion requirement imposed for the purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting a person from being approached by the offender The person intended to be protected
A residence requirement relating to residence in an institution The person in charge of the institution
A mental health treatment requirement The person specified under paragraph 16(3)(b)(iii) of Schedule 9 or the person in charge of the institution or place specified under paragraph 16(3)(b)(i) or (ii) of that Schedule
A drug rehabilitation requirement The person in charge of the institution or place specified under paragraph 19(5)(b) or (c) of Schedule 9
An alcohol treatment requirement The person in charge of the institution or place specified under paragraph 23(5)(c) or (d) of Schedule 9 or, in the case of practitioner-based treatment, the person specified under paragraph 23(5)(a) of that Schedule
An electronic monitoring requirement Any person who by virtue of paragraph 31(1) of Schedule 9 will be responsible for the electronic monitoring
An electronic monitoring requirement Any person without whose consent the requirement could not be included in the order.
  • (5) Where the court acts in a local justice area other than the offender's home local justice area specified in the order prior to the amendment or revocation (“the former home area”), the court must provide a copy of the amending or revoking order to a magistrates' court acting in the former home area.
  • (6) Where under sub-paragraph (3) the court provides a copy of an amending or revoking order to a magistrates' court acting in a different area, it must also provide that court with such documents and information relating to the case as it considers likely to be of assistance to a court acting in that area in the exercise of its functions in relation to the order.
  • (7) In this paragraph “public sector provider” means—
  • (a) a probation trust or other public body, or
  • (b) the Secretary of State.

SCHEDULE 17 — Transfer of suspended sentence orders to Scotland or Northern Ireland

PART 1 — Scotland

Restriction on making relevant suspended sentence order where offender resides in Scotland

1
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) a relevant suspended sentence order is available to a court dealing with an offender, and
  • (b) the court is satisfied that the offender—
  • (i) resides in Scotland, or
  • (ii) if a relevant suspended sentence order is made, will reside there when the order comes into force.
  • (2) The court may make a relevant suspended sentence order only if—
  • (a) it appears to the court that suitable arrangements for the offender's supervision can be made by the local council in Scotland, and
  • (b) the order will satisfy paragraphs 8 and 9.
  • (3) If the court makes a relevant suspended sentence order in accordance with this paragraph, it may not provide for it to be subject to review.

Amendment of relevant suspended sentence order to become SSSO

2
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) a relevant suspended sentence order is in force,
  • (b) the appropriate court is satisfied that the offender—
  • (i) resides in Scotland, or
  • (ii) proposes to reside there, and
  • (c) it appears to the court that suitable arrangements for the offender's supervision can be made by the local council in Scotland.
  • (2) The power of the appropriate court to amend the order under Part 3 of Schedule 16 (“the amendment power”) includes power to amend the order by requiring—
  • (a) the order to be complied with in Scotland, and
  • (b) the offender to be supervised in accordance with the arrangements referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(c).
  • (3) But the appropriate court may exercise the amendment power in that way only if the order (as amended) will satisfy paragraphs 8 and 9.
3
  • (1) A relevant suspended sentence order which is subject to review ceases to be subject to review if it is amended in accordance with paragraph 2.
  • (2) If the court amends a relevant suspended sentence order in accordance with paragraph 2, it may not provide for it to be subject to review.

PART 2 — Northern Ireland

Restriction on making suspended sentence order where offender resides in Northern Ireland

4
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) a relevant suspended sentence order is available to a court dealing with an offender, and
  • (b) the court is satisfied that the offender—
  • (i) resides in Northern Ireland, or
  • (ii) if a relevant suspended sentence order is made, will reside there when the order comes into force.
  • (2) The court may make a relevant suspended sentence order only if—
  • (a) it appears to the court that suitable arrangements for the offender's supervision can be made by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, and
  • (b) the order will satisfy paragraphs 8 and 9.
  • (3) If the court makes a relevant suspended sentence order in accordance with this paragraph, it may not provide for it to be subject to review.

Amendment of relevant suspended sentence order to become an NISSO

5
  • (1) This paragraph applies where—
  • (a) a relevant suspended sentence order is in force,
  • (b) the appropriate court is satisfied that the offender—
  • (i) resides in Northern Ireland, or
  • (ii) proposes to reside there, and
  • (c) it appears to the court that suitable arrangements for the offender's supervision can be made by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.
  • (2) The power of the appropriate court to amend the order under Part 3 of Schedule 16 (“the amendment power”) includes power to amend the order by requiring—
  • (a) the order to be complied with in Northern Ireland, and
  • (b) the offender to be supervised in accordance with the arrangements referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(c).
  • (3) But the appropriate court may exercise the amendment power in that way only if the order (as amended) will satisfy paragraphs 8 and 9.
6
  • (1) A relevant suspended sentence order which is subject to review ceases to be subject to review if it is amended in accordance with paragraph 5.
  • (2) If the court amends a relevant suspended sentence order in accordance with paragraph 5, it may not provide for it to be subject to review.

PART 3 — Making of orders

Making or amending a suspended sentence order under

7

This Part of this Schedule applies where, in accordance with Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule, a court—

  • (a) makes an SSSO or an NISSO, or
  • (b) amends a suspended sentence order so as to become an SSSO or an NISSO.

Community requirements: availability and restrictions on imposition

8
  • (1) If the order is an SSSO, it must not impose—
  • (a) an alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement,
  • (b) an attendance centre requirement, or
  • (c) an electronic whereabouts monitoring requirement.
  • (2) If the order is an NISSO—
  • (a) it must not impose an alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement;
  • (b) it must not impose an electronic whereabouts monitoring requirement unless it appears to the court that—
  • (i) any necessary provision can be made in the offender's case under arrangements that exist for persons resident in Northern Ireland, and
  • (ii) arrangements are generally operational throughout Northern Ireland (even if not always operational everywhere there) under which the offender's whereabouts can be electronically monitored.
9
  • (1) The order, as made or amended, may not impose a locally based requirement unless it appears to the court that—
  • (a) arrangements exist for persons to comply with such a requirement in—
  • (i) the locality in Scotland in which the offender resides, or will be residing at the relevant time, in the case of an SSSO, or
  • (ii) Northern Ireland, in the case of an NISSO, and
  • (b) provision can be made for the offender to comply with the requirement under those arrangements.
  • (2) For the purposes of this paragraph, “locally based requirement” means any of the following—
  • (a) an unpaid work requirement;
  • (b) a rehabilitation activity requirement;
  • (c) a programme requirement;
  • (d) a mental health treatment requirement;
  • (e) a drug rehabilitation requirement;
  • (f) an alcohol treatment requirement;
  • (g) in relation to an NISSO, an attendance centre requirement , where such a requirement is available (see section 207(3));
  • (h) an electronic compliance monitoring requirement , where such a requirement is available (see section 207(4)).
10

Schedule 9 (requirements) applies as if—

  • (a) any reference to the responsible officer were to the relevant officer;
  • (b) the following provisions were omitted—
  • (i) paragraph 13(3) (residence requirement: hostel or institution not to be specified except on recommendation);
  • (ii) paragraph 31(2) (person for electronic monitoring to be of prescribed description);
  • (iii) paragraphs 34 and 35 (restriction on imposing electronic monitoring requirement);
  • (c) in paragraph 16(2) (mental health treatment requirement), for the definition of “in-patient treatment” there were substituted—
  • (i) in relation to an SSSO or proposed SSSO—

“in-patient treatment” means treatment as a resident patient in a hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, not being a State hospital within the meaning of that Act;

  • (ii) in relation to an NISSO or proposed NISSO—

“in-patient treatment” means treatment (whether as an in-patient or an out-patient) at such hospital as may be specified in the order, being a hospital within the meaning of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, approved by the Department of Health for the purpose of paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24));

  • (d) in relation to an NISSO or proposed NISSO, any reference in Part 13 (attendance centre requirement) to an attendance centre were to a day centre, as defined by paragraph 3(6) of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24)).

Matters to be specified in the order

11
  • (1) The suspended sentence order, as made or amended in accordance with Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule, must—
  • (a) if it is an SSSO, specify the local authority area in Scotland in which the offender resides or will be residing at the relevant time, or
  • (b) if it is an NISSO, specify that the offender resides in Northern Ireland or will be residing there at the relevant time.
  • (2) This paragraph has effect in place of section 296 (offender's home local justice area to be specified).

Order to require home authority to appoint relevant officer

12

The suspended sentence order, as made or amended in accordance with Part 1 or 2 of this Schedule, must require the home authority to appoint or assign—

  • (a) an officer, in the case of an SSSO, or
  • (b) a probation officer, in the case of an NISSO,

who will be responsible for discharging in relation to the offender the functions conferred on responsible officers in relation to relevant suspended sentence orders by this Code.

Provision of copies

13
  • (1) This paragraph applies where a court makes an order (“the transferring order”) which makes or amends a suspended sentence order as mentioned in paragraph 7.
  • (2) The court must forthwith provide the offender with a copy of the transferring order.
  • (3) The court must provide—
  • (a) the home authority, and
  • (b) the home court,

with the relevant documents.

  • (4) In sub-paragraph (3), “the relevant documents” means—
  • (a) a copy of the suspended sentence order as made or amended, and
  • (b) such other documents and information relating to the case as the court considers likely to be of assistance.
  • (5) Where the transferring order imposes or amends a requirement specified in column 1 of the following table, the court must also provide the person specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 with a copy of so much of the transferring order as relates to that requirement.
The requirement The person to whom a copy must be provided
An exclusion requirement imposed for the purpose (or partly for the purpose) of protecting a person from being approached by the offender The person intended to be protected
A residence requirement relating to residence in an institution The person in charge of the institution
A mental health treatment requirement The person specified under paragraph 16(3)(b)(iii) of Schedule 9 or the person in charge of the institution or place specified under paragraph 16(3)(b)(i) or (ii) of that Schedule
A drug rehabilitation requirement The person in charge of the institution or place specified under paragraph 19(5)(b) or (c) of Schedule 9
An alcohol treatment requirement The person in charge of the institution or place specified under paragraph 23(5)(c) or (d) of Schedule 9 or, in the case of practitioner-based treatment, the person specified under paragraph 23(5)(a) of that Schedule
An electronic monitoring requirement Any person who by virtue of paragraph 31(1) of Schedule 9 will be responsible for the electronic monitoring
An electronic monitoring requirement Any person without whose consent the requirement could not be included in the order.
  • (6) Sub-paragraphs (7) and (8) apply where the transferring order is an order amending a suspended sentence order in accordance with paragraph 2 or 5.
  • (7) The court must provide a copy of the transferring order to the responsible officer.
  • (8) Where the court making the transferring order acts in a local justice area other than the offender's home local justice area specified in the suspended sentence order prior to the amendment (“the former home area”), the court must provide a copy of the transferring order to a magistrates' court acting in the former home area.
  • (9) This paragraph applies in place of—
  • (a) section 298 (provision of copies of suspended sentence orders), and
  • (b) paragraph 28 of Schedule 16 (provision of copies following amendment of suspended sentence order).

PART 4 — Provisions where SSSO or NISSO is in force

Application

14
  • (1) This Part of this Schedule applies while an SSSO or NISSO is in force in relation to an offender.
  • (2) This is subject to Part 8 of this Schedule (transfer to England and Wales).

Role of responsible officer to be carried out by relevant officer

15

Sections 300 to 302 (role of responsible officer) apply as if any reference to the responsible officer were to the relevant officer.

Community requirements

16

Schedule 9 (requirements) applies as if—

  • (a) any reference to the responsible officer were to the relevant officer;
  • (b) the following provisions were omitted—
  • (i) paragraph 13(3) (residence requirement: hostel or institution not to be specified except on recommendation);
  • (ii) paragraph 31(2) (person for electronic monitoring to be of prescribed description);
  • (iii) paragraphs 34 and 35 (restriction on imposing electronic monitoring requirement);
  • (c) in paragraph 16(2) (mental health treatment requirement), for the definition of “in-patient treatment” there were substituted—
  • (i) in relation to an SSSO—

“in-patient treatment” means treatment as a resident patient in a hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, not being a State hospital within the meaning of that Act;

  • (ii) in relation to an NISSO—

“in-patient treatment” means treatment (whether as an in-patient or an out-patient) at such hospital as may be specified in the order, being a hospital within the meaning of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, approved by the Department of Health for the purpose of paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24));

  • (d) in relation to an NISSO, any reference in Part 13 (attendance centre requirement) to an attendance centre were to a day centre, as defined by paragraph 3(6) of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24)).

PART 5 — Breach of community requirement

Application

17

This Part of this Schedule—

  • (a) applies where an SSSO or an NISSO is in force in respect of an offender, and
  • (b) includes provisions that modify, or apply in place of, certain provisions of Part 2 of Schedule 16 (breach of community requirement or conviction of further offence).

Breach of community requirement: duty to give warning or refer to home court

18
  • (1) This paragraph applies where the relevant officer is of the opinion that the offender has without reasonable excuse breached a community requirement of the order.
  • (2) If the offender has been given a relevant warning within the previous 12 months in relation to a breach of any community requirement of the order, the officer must—
  • (a) if the order is an SSSO, provide information to the home court with a view to it issuing a citation, or
  • (b) if the order is an NISSO, make a complaint to a lay magistrate in Northern Ireland.
  • (3) Otherwise the officer must—
  • (a) give the offender a warning under this paragraph,
  • (b) if the order is an SSSO, provide information to the home court with a view to it issuing a citation, or
  • (c) if the order is an NISSO, make a complaint to a lay magistrate in Northern Ireland.
  • (4) A warning under this paragraph must—
  • (a) describe the circumstances of the breach,
  • (b) state that the breach is unacceptable, and
  • (c) inform the offender that if the offender again breaches a requirement of the order within the next 12 months, the offender will be liable to be brought before a court.
  • (5) As soon as practicable after giving a warning under this paragraph, the relevant officer must record that fact.
  • (6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2), a relevant warning is a warning under—
  • (a) this paragraph, or
  • (b) paragraph 6 of Schedule 16 (corresponding provision for order not transferred to Scotland or Northern Ireland).
  • (7) If the suspended sentence order is amended under paragraph 35 (transfer back to England and Wales), the reference in paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 16 to a previous warning under paragraph 6 of that Schedule includes a reference to a warning under this paragraph.

Issue of citation or warrant by home court

19
  • (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where it appears to the home court—
  • (a) if that court is in Scotland, on information from the relevant officer, or
  • (b) if that court is in Northern Ireland, upon a complaint being made by the relevant officer,

that the offender has breached a community requirement of the suspended sentence order without reasonable excuse.

  • (2) The home court may—
  • (a) if it is in Scotland—
  • (i) issue a citation requiring the offender to appear before it at the time specified in the citation, or
  • (ii) issue a warrant for the offender's arrest;
  • (b) if it is in Northern Ireland—
  • (i) issue a summons requiring the offender to appear before it at the time specified in the summons, or
  • (ii) issue a warrant for the offender' arrest.

Powers of home court to determine breach or refer to original court

20
  • (1) The court before which an offender appears or is brought by virtue of paragraph 19 must—
  • (a) determine whether the offender has breached any community requirement of the suspended sentence order without reasonable excuse, or
  • (b) require the offender to appear before the original court.
  • (2) Sub-paragraphs (3) to (6) apply if the home court determines under sub-paragraph (1)(a) that the offender has breached any requirement of the order without reasonable excuse.
  • (3) The court must—
  • (a) require the offender to appear before the original court, and
  • (b) send the original court a certificate certifying that the offender has without reasonable excuse breached the requirements of the order in the respect specified.
  • (4) Sub-paragraph (5) applies when the offender appears before the original court by virtue of sub-paragraph (3).
  • (5) Paragraph 10 or, as the case may be, 12 of Schedule 16 (functions of court on breach of community requirement) applies as if what the home court had determined under sub-paragraph (1)(a) had already been proved to the satisfaction of the original court.
  • (6) Where an offender is required under sub-paragraph (3)(a) to appear before the original court, a certificate under sub-paragraph (3)(b) signed by the clerk of the home court is admissible before the original court as conclusive evidence of the matters stated in it.
  • (7) See Part 7 of this Schedule for provisions that apply to the original court where it exercises a power by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b) or (3)(a).

Determination by home court of breach of community requirement: further provision

21
  • (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where an offender—
  • (a) is required by any of the following community requirements of a suspended sentence order to submit to treatment—
  • (i) a mental health treatment requirement,
  • (ii) a drug rehabilitation requirement, or
  • (iii) an alcohol treatment requirement, and
  • (b) has refused to undergo any surgical, electrical or other treatment.
  • (2) The offender is not to be treated for the purposes of paragraph 20 as having breached that requirement on the ground only of that refusal if, in the opinion of the court, the offender's refusal was reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.
  • (3) Where the court makes a determination under paragraph 20(1)(a), the evidence of one witness is sufficient.
  • (4) If the order—
  • (a) is an SSSO, and
  • (b) contains an electronic monitoring requirement,

section 245H of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (documentary evidence) applies to proceedings under paragraph 20 as it applies to proceedings under section 245F of that Act (breach of restriction of liberty order).

22

Paragraphs 18 to 21 have effect in place of paragraphs 6 and 7 of Schedule 16 (breach or amendment of suspended sentence order).

Modifications of Part 2 of Schedule 16 etc

23
  • (1) Part 2 of Schedule 16 (breach of community requirement and effect of further conviction), apart from paragraphs 6 and 7, applies as if—
  • (a) any reference to the responsible officer were to the relevant officer;
  • (b) any reference to a magistrates' court acting in the offender's home local justice area were to a magistrates' court acting in the same local justice area as the original court;
  • (c) any reference to a justice of the peace acting in the offender's home local justice area were to a justice of the peace acting in the same local justice area as the original court;
  • (d) any reference to the appropriate court were to the original court;
  • (e) for sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph 8(3)(b) there were substituted “ the same local justice area as the original court ”.
  • (2) No court in England and Wales may exercise any power in relation to any breach by the offender of a community requirement of the order unless the offender has been required to appear before that court in accordance with paragraph 20(1)(b) or (3)(a).

PART 6 — Amendment of SSSO or NISSO: offender remaining in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Application

24

This Part of this Schedule—

  • (a) applies where an SSSO or an NISSO is in force in respect of an offender, and
  • (b) includes provisions that modify, or apply in place of, certain provisions of Part 3 of Schedule 16 (amendment of suspended sentence order).

Modifications of Part 3 of Schedule 16

25

Part 3 of Schedule 16 (amendment of suspended sentence order) applies as if—

  • (a) any reference to the responsible officer were to the relevant officer;
  • (b) any reference a magistrates' court acting in the offender's home local justice area were to a magistrates' court acting in the same local justice area as the original court;
  • (c) any reference to a justice of the peace acting in the offender's home local justice area were to a justice of the peace acting in the same local justice area as the original court;
  • (d) any reference to the appropriate court were to the original court;
  • (da) paragraph 22A (termination of supervision period) were omitted;
  • (e) in the case of an SSSO, in paragraphs 23 and 24 of that Schedule (amendment by reason of change of residence), any reference to the offender's home local justice area were to the local authority area specified in the order, and any other reference to a local justice area were to a local authority area;
  • (f) in the case of an NISSO, those paragraphs were omitted.

Powers to amend suspended sentence order exercisable by home court

26
  • (1) The home court may exercise any power conferred by Part 3 of Schedule 16 (amendment of suspended sentence order) as if it were the original court.

This is subject to sub-paragraph (2).

  • (2) Where paragraph 25(7) of Schedule 16 (power to deal with offender who fails to express willingness to comply with amended treatment requirement) applies, the home court—
  • (a) may not exercise the power conferred by that provision, and
  • (b) must require the offender to appear before the original court.
  • (3) See paragraph 27 and Part 7 of this Schedule for provisions that apply to the home court where it exercises a power by virtue of sub-paragraph (1).

Cases in which offender is to be required to appear before home court

27
  • (1) This paragraph applies in place of sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) of paragraph 25 of Schedule 16 (amendment of community requirements of suspended sentence order) in relation to any exercise by the home court of the power conferred by sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph.
  • (2) Before exercising the power, the home court must issue—
  • (a) a citation, if it is Scotland, or
  • (b) a summons, if it is in Northern Ireland,

requiring the offender to appear before it.

  • (3) If the offender does not appear in answer to a citation or summons under sub-paragraph (2), the court may issue a warrant for the offender's arrest.
  • (4) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply where the home court exercises the power—
  • (a) on the application of the offender, or
  • (b) to cancel a community requirement of the suspended sentence order.

Modification of sections 300 to 302 and Schedule 9

28
  • (1) This paragraph applies where the home court is considering amending an SSSO or an NISSO under Part 3 of Schedule 16 by virtue of this Part of this Schedule.
  • (2) Sections 300 to 302 (functions of responsible officer) and Schedule 9 (requirements) apply as if any reference to a provider of probation services were—
  • (a) in the case of an SSSO, to a local authority in Scotland;

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