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Sentencing Act 2020

Type Public General Act

Publication 2020-10-22

Last updated 2026-07-25

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

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(3) The length of the compliance period is—

(a) if the contract relates to a single referral order, the period specified in the order under section 86(1)(b);

(b) if the contract relates to two or more referral orders, the total period resulting from any direction of the court under section 88(4).

(4) Subsection (3) is subject to—

(a) any order under paragraph 9, 12 or 15 of Schedule 4 extending the length of the compliance period, and

(b) subsection (5).

(5) The compliance period expires on revocation of the referral order, or each of the referral orders, to which the youth offender contract relates.

Duty of offender to notify details to panel

97A

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a referral order has been made in relation to an offender and has not been revoked or discharged, and

(b) a youth offender contract has taken effect between the offender and a youth offender panel.

(2) The offender must notify the relevant member of the panel of—

(a) each name which the offender uses but which was not mentioned in the referral order, and

(b) each of the offender’s telephone numbers and email addresses (if any).

(3) The offender must comply with subsection (2) in relation to a name, telephone number or email address as soon as reasonably practicable after the contract takes effect or the person first uses that name or obtains that telephone number or email address.

(4) An obligation under subsection (2) takes effect as if it were a term of the youth offender contract.

(5) The “relevant member” of the panel is the member of the panel who, in accordance with arrangements made by the panel, is for the time being responsible for receiving notifications under this section.

(6) The relevant member of the panel must be someone who is also a member of the specified youth offending team.

(7) The panel must give the offender written notification of the name and contact details of the relevant member of the panel.

(8) This section applies in relation to referral orders made before (as well as those made after) this section comes into force.

Failure to agree youth offender contract

98

(1) This section applies to—

(a) the first meeting of a youth offender panel established for an offender, and

(b) any further meeting of the panel held under subsection (2)(b).

(2) The panel may—

(a) end the meeting without having reached agreement with the offender on an appropriate programme of behaviour, and

(b) resume consideration of the offender's case at a further meeting of the panel.

(3) But if, at the meeting, it appears to the panel that there is no prospect of reaching an agreement with the offender on an appropriate programme of behaviour within a reasonable period after the making of the referral order (or orders), the panel—

(a) may not consider the case at a further meeting under subsection (2)(b), and

(b) must instead refer the offender back to court.

(4) If, at the meeting, the panel and the offender reach agreement on an appropriate programme of behaviour, but—

(a) the offender does not sign the record produced under section 96(4)(b), and

(b) the offender's failure to do so appears to the panel to be unreasonable,

the panel must end the meeting and refer the offender back to court.

(5) In this section, “appropriate programme of behaviour” means a programme of behaviour of the kind mentioned in section 96(2).

Arranging progress meetings

99

(1) This section applies where a youth offender contract has taken effect.

(2) The specified youth offending team must arrange a meeting of the youth offender panel at any time during the compliance period (“a progress meeting”) if the panel requests it to do so under this section.

(3) The panel may request the specified youth offending team to arrange a progress meeting if it appears to the panel to be expedient to review—

(a) the offender's progress in implementing the programme of behaviour contained in the youth offender contract, or

(b) any other matter arising in connection with the contract.

(4) The panel must request the specified youth offending team to arrange a progress meeting if subsection (5) or (6) applies.

(5) This subsection applies where the offender has notified the panel that the offender wishes—

(a) the youth offender contract to be varied, or

(b) to be referred back to court with a view to the referral order (or orders) being revoked on account of a significant change in the offender's circumstances (such as being taken to live abroad) which makes compliance with the contract impractical.

(6) This subsection applies where it appears to the panel that the offender is in breach of the contract.

Progress meetings: conduct

100

(1) This section applies to any meeting of a youth offender panel arranged under section 99.

(2) At the meeting, the youth offender panel must do such of the following as it considers appropriate in the circumstances—

(a) review the offender's progress or any other matter referred to in section 99(3);

(b) discuss with the offender any breach of the youth offender contract which it appears to the panel that the offender has committed;

(i) sought by the offender, or

(ii) which appears to the panel expedient in the light of any such review or discussion;

(d) consider any request by the offender under section 99(5)(b) to be referred back to court.

(3) Where the youth offender panel has discussed with the offender any breach of the contract which it appears to the panel that the offender has committed, the panel may—

(a) agree with the offender that the offender is to continue to be required to comply with the contract (either in its original form or with any agreed variation of it) without being referred back to court, or

(b) end the meeting and refer the offender back to court.

(4) Where the panel and the offender agree a variation in the contract, the panel must produce a written record of the variation forthwith—

(a) in language capable of being readily understood by, or explained to, the offender,

(b) for signature by the offender, and

(5) Once the record has been signed by the offender and on behalf of the panel—

(a) the variation in the contract takes effect, and

(b) the panel must provide a copy of the record to the offender.

(6) If at the meeting—

(a) the panel and the offender agree a variation in the contract,

(b) the offender does not sign the record produced under subsection (4), and

the panel may end the meeting and refer the offender back to court.

(7) Schedule 3 (programme of behaviour) applies to what the contract, as varied under this section, may provide as it applies to a programme of behaviour agreed under section 96.

(8) Where the offender has requested under section 99(5)(b) to be referred back to court and the panel—

(a) has discussed the request with the offender, and

(b) is satisfied that there is (or is soon to be) a change in circumstances of the kind mentioned in that provision,

it may end the meeting and refer the offender back to court.

Final meeting

101

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a youth offender contract has taken effect between a youth offender panel and an offender, and

(b) the compliance period is due to expire.

(2) The specified youth offending team must arrange a meeting of the panel (“the final meeting”) to be held before the end of the compliance period.

(3) At the final meeting the panel must—

(a) review the extent of the offender's compliance to date with the youth offender contract,

(b) decide whether or not the offender's compliance with the contract justifies the conclusion that the offender will have satisfactorily completed the contract by the end of the compliance period, and

(4) A decision that the conclusion mentioned in subsection (3)(b) is justified—

(a) has the effect of discharging the referral order (or orders) as from the end of the compliance period, and

(b) can be made in the offender's absence.

(5) If the panel decides that that conclusion is not justified, it must refer the offender back to court.

(6) Nothing in section 92(3) permits the final meeting to be adjourned (or re-adjourned) to a time after the end of the compliance period.

Other powers to refer offender back to court

Revocation of referral order where offender making good progress etc

102

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a youth offender contract has taken effect between a youth offender panel and an offender, and

(b) it appears to the panel to be in the interests of justice for the referral order (or each of the referral orders) to be revoked.

(2) The panel may refer the offender back to court, requesting the appropriate court—

(a) to revoke the order (or each of the orders) under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 7 of Schedule 4, or

(b) to—

(i) revoke the order (or each of the orders) under that sub-paragraph, and

(ii) re-sentence the offender under sub-paragraph (4) of that paragraph for the offence in respect of which the revoked order was made.

(3) In deciding whether to refer the offender back to court under this section, the panel must have regard to circumstances which have arisen since the youth offender contract took effect, which may include the offender's making good progress under the contract.

(4) Where—

(a) the panel refers the offender back to court under this section, and

(b) the appropriate court decides not to revoke the order (or orders) under paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 4 in consequence of that referral,

the panel may not refer the offender back to court again under this section during the 3 month period beginning with the date of the court's decision, except with the consent of the appropriate court.

Extension of compliance period

103

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a youth offender contract has taken effect,

(b) the compliance period is less than 12 months,

(d) having regard to circumstances which have arisen since the contract took effect, it appears to the youth offender panel to be in the interests of justice for the length of the compliance period to be extended.

(2) The panel may refer the offender back to court requesting the appropriate court to extend the length of the compliance period.

(3) The requested period of extension must not be more than 3 months.

Further court proceedings

Offender referred back to court or convicted while subject to referral order

104

In Schedule 4—

(a) Part 1 makes provision for what is to happen when a youth offender panel refers an offender back to court;

(b) Part 2 makes provision for what is to happen when an offender is convicted of further offences while subject to a referral order.

Supplementary

Youth offender panel: change of residence

105

(1) This section applies where the court which made a referral order is satisfied that—

(a) the offender has changed, or proposes to change, residence (to the “new residence”), and

(b) the youth offending team for the time being specified in the order (“the current team”) does not have the function of implementing referral orders in the area of the offender's new residence (“the new area”).

(2) The court may amend the order so that it specifies instead the youth offending team which has the function of implementing referral orders in the new area (“the new team”).

(3) Where the court does so, this Chapter (and, in particular, section 91(2) (duty to establish youth offender panel)) applies to the new team accordingly.

This is subject to subsection (4).

(4) If a youth offender contract has already taken effect under the referral order between the offender and the youth offender panel established by the current team—

(a) section 95 does not apply to the new team, and

(b) the contract has effect after the amendment as a youth offender contract between—

(i) the offender, and

(ii) the youth offender panel established by the new team.

Functions of the specified youth offending team

106

(1) This section applies where a referral order is made in respect of an offender.

(2) The specified youth offending team must arrange for the provision of such administrative staff, accommodation or other facilities as are required by the youth offender panel.

(3) During the compliance period—

(a) the specified youth offending team must make arrangements for supervising the offender's compliance with the youth offender contract, and

(b) the person who is the member of the panel referred to in section 91(4)(a) must ensure that records are kept of the offender's compliance, or failure to comply, with that contract.

(4) In implementing a referral order, the specified youth offending team must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of State may revise any guidance issued under subsection (4).

Rules of court

107

(1) Criminal Procedure Rules may make such provision as appears to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter.

(2) Nothing in this section affects the generality of any other enactment conferring power to make Criminal Procedure Rules.

Referral orders: interpretation

108

(1) In this Chapter—

“the appropriate court”, in relation to any referral of an offender back to court, means—if the offender is aged under 18 when first appearing before the court in pursuance of the referral back, a youth court acting in the local justice area in which it appears to the youth offender panel that the offender resides or will reside;otherwise, a magistrates' court (other than a youth court) acting in that area;

“associated”, in relation to referral orders, is to be read in accordance with section 88(6);

“compliance period” means the period for which a youth offender contract which takes effect between the offender and the youth offender panel is to have effect;

“meeting”, in relation to a youth offender panel, means—the first meeting arranged under section 95(1),any further meeting held under section 98(2)(b),any progress meeting arranged under section 99, orthe final meeting held under section 101;

“the specified youth offending team”, in relation to an offender to whom a referral order applies (or two or more associated referral orders apply), means the youth offending team for the time being specified in the order (or orders);

“youth offender panel”, in relation to an offender, means the panel established for the offender in accordance with section 91.

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter, an offence is connected with another offence if the offender is to be dealt with for both offences at the same time (whether or not convicted of them at the same time or by or before the same court).

(3) Any reference in this Chapter to a youth offender contract taking effect is to it taking effect between an offender and a youth offender panel under section 96.

(4) Section 404 (certain references to parent or guardian to be read as references to local authority) does not apply for the purposes of this Chapter (except that it does apply for the purposes of paragraph 13 of Schedule 4 (further proceedings)).

CHAPTER 2 — Reparation orders for offenders aged under 18

Reparation order

109

(1) In this Code “reparation order” means an order made under this Chapter in respect of an offence which imposes requirements on the offender to make reparation for the offence to—

(a) a particular person or particular persons, or

(b) the community at large.

(2) In this Chapter, references to making reparation for an offence are to making reparation for the offence otherwise than by the payment of compensation.

Reparation order: availability

110

(1) A reparation order is available to a court dealing with an offender for an offence where—

(za) the offender is convicted of the offence before the day on which section 162 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 comes into force,

(a) the offender is aged under 18 when convicted,

(b) the offence is not an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law, and

(i) impose a custodial sentence,

(ii) make a youth rehabilitation order, or

(iii) make a referral order.

(2) But a reparation order is not available unless the court has been notified by the Secretary of State that arrangements for implementing reparation orders are available in the area in which it appears to the court that the offender resides or will reside (and the notice has not been withdrawn).

(3) A reparation order is not available if the offender is subject to a youth rehabilitation order, unless when it makes the reparation order the court revokes the youth rehabilitation order.

(4) For the power of the court to revoke the youth rehabilitation order, see Part 5 of Schedule 7 (powers of court in relation to youth rehabilitation order following subsequent conviction).

Requirement to consider report before making a reparation order

111

(1) This section applies where a court proposes to make a reparation order in respect of an offence.

(2) Before making the order, the court must obtain and consider a written report by—

(a) an officer of a provider of probation services,

(b) a social worker of a local authority, or

(3) The report must indicate—

(a) the type of work that is suitable for the offender, and

(b) the attitude of the victim or victims to requirements proposed to be included in the reparation order.

Requirements to make reparation to be specified in order

112

(1) This section applies where a court makes a reparation order in respect of an offence.

(2) The reparation order must—

(a) specify the requirements with which the offender must comply, and

(b) if those requirements require reparation to be made to a particular person or particular persons, specify that person or those persons.

(3) The requirements must be such as in the opinion of the court are commensurate with the seriousness of—

(a) the offence, or

(b) the combination of the offence and one or more associated offences.

This is subject to subsections (5) and (6).

(4) Any person specified under subsection (2)(b) must be a person identified by the court as—

(a) a victim of the offence, or

(b) a person otherwise affected by it.

(5) The reparation order may not impose a requirement to make reparation to a particular person without the consent of that person.

(6) The requirements must be requirements to make reparation which—

(a) may require the offender to perform work, but

(b) if they do, must not require the offender to work for more than 24 hours in aggregate.

(7) The requirements must, so far as practicable, be such as to avoid—

(a) any interference with the times, if any, at which the offender normally works or attends school or any other educational establishment,

(b) any conflict with the offender's religious beliefs, and

Other provision to be specified in a reparation order

113

(1) This section applies where a court makes a reparation order.

(2) The reparation order must specify the local justice area in which it appears to the court making the order that the offender resides or will reside.

(3) The reparation order must specify the responsible officer.

(4) The person specified as the responsible officer must be—

(a) an officer of a provider of probation services acting in the offender's home local justice area,

(b) a social worker of the local authority in whose area it appears to the court that the offender resides or will reside, or

Making reparation

114

(1) The offender must perform the requirements of the reparation order under the supervision of the responsible officer.

(2) Any requirements to make reparation imposed by a reparation order must be completed within the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which the order is made.

Breach, revocation or amendment of reparation order

115

Schedule 5 makes provision about breach, revocation and amendment of reparation orders.

Reparation orders: interpretation

116

In this Chapter—

(a) references to making reparation are to be read in accordance with section 109(2);

(b) “offender's home local justice area” means the local justice area for the time being specified in the reparation order under section 113 or by virtue of an order under paragraph 5(4)(b)(ii) of Schedule 5;

(c) the “responsible officer” means the responsible officer for the time being specified in the reparation order under that section or by virtue of an order under that paragraph;

(d) references to breach of a requirement of a reparation order include references to a failure to comply with the requirement.

CHAPTER 3 — Other orders

Orders under Street Offences Act 1959

117

See section 1(2A) of the Street Offences Act 1959 for orders available in the case of offences under section 1 of that Act (loitering or soliciting for purposes of prostitution) where no other sentence is imposed.

PART 7 — Financial orders and orders relating to property

CHAPTER 1 — Fines

Availability

Availability of fine: magistrates' court

118

(1) A fine is available to a magistrates' court dealing with an offender for an offence if under the relevant offence provision a person who is convicted of that offence is liable to a fine.

(2) If under the relevant offence provision the offender is liable to—

(a) a fine of a specified amount,

(b) a fine of not more than a specified amount,

the amount of the fine—

(i) must not be more than that amount, but

(ii) may be less than that amount (unless an Act passed after 31 December 1879 expressly provides to the contrary).

(3) This is subject to—

(a) section 121 (availability: fines not to be combined with certain other orders);

(b) section 123 (limit on fines imposed by magistrates' courts in respect of young offenders).

(4) In this section “relevant offence provision”, in relation to an offence, means—

(a) the enactment creating the offence or specifying the penalty to which a person convicted of the offence is liable, or

(b) that provision read in accordance with—

(i) section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (removal of limit on certain fines on conviction by magistrates' court) and regulations under that section;

(ii) section 86 of that Act (power to increase certain other fines on conviction by magistrates' court) and regulations under that section;

(iii) section 32 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (penalties on summary conviction for offences triable either way);

(iv) section 119 (power of magistrates' court to fine where only imprisonment etc specified);

(v) section 122 (standard scale of fines),

and, for this purpose, “enactment” includes an enactment contained in a local Act or in any order, regulation or other instrument having effect by virtue of an Act.

Power of magistrates' court to fine where only imprisonment etc specified

119

(1) This section applies where under an enactment a magistrates' court has power to sentence an offender to imprisonment or other detention but not to a fine.

It is immaterial whether the enactment was passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act.

(2) The magistrates' court may impose a fine instead of sentencing the offender to imprisonment or other detention (unless an Act passed after 31 December 1879 expressly provides to the contrary).

(3) In the case of an offence which—

(a) is triable either way, and

(b) was committed before 12 March 2015,

a fine imposed under subsection (2) may not exceed the prescribed sum (within the meaning of section 32 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980).

(4) In the case of a fine imposed under subsection (2) for a summary offence—

(a) the amount of the fine may not exceed level 3 on the standard scale, and

(b) the default term must not be longer than the term of imprisonment or detention to which the offender is liable on conviction of the offence.

For this purpose, “default term” means the term of imprisonment or detention under section 108 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 to which the offender would be subject in default of payment of the fine.

(5) In this section “enactment” includes an enactment contained in a local Act or in any order, regulation or other instrument having effect by virtue of an Act.

General power of Crown Court to fine offender convicted on indictment

120

(1) A fine is available to the Crown Court where it is dealing with an offender who is convicted on indictment for an offence—

(a) instead of, or

(b) in addition to,

dealing with the offender in any other way which is available to the court.

(2) Subsection (1)—

(a) does not apply where the offence is one in relation to which a mandatory sentence requirement applies by virtue of any of the following provisions of section 399—

(i) paragraph (a) (life sentence for murder etc),

(ii) paragraph (b) (other mandatory life sentences),

(iia) paragraph (ba) (serious terrorism sentences), or

(iii) paragraph (c)(iv) (minimum sentence for third domestic burglary offence),

(b) is subject to any other enactment requiring the offender to be dealt with in a particular way, and

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the maximum amount of a fine to which a person is liable for an offence committed before 1 December 2020.

Availability of fine: effect of other orders

121

For circumstances in which a fine is not available, see—

(a) section 37(8) of the Mental Health Act 1983 (hospital order or guardianship order in case where person convicted of offence punishable with imprisonment);

(b) section 89 (making of referral order: effect on court's other sentencing powers).

Magistrates' court

The standard scale of fines for summary offences

122

(1) The standard scale of fines for summary offences, which is known as “the standard scale”, as it has effect for Code offences, is as follows—

Level on the scale	Amount of fine	Amount of fine	Amount of fine
Level on the scale	Offence committed on or after 11 April 1983 and before 1 May 1984	Offence committed on or after 1 May 1984 and before 1 October 1992	Offence committed on or after 1 October 1992
1	£25	£50	£200
2	£50	£100	£500
3	£200	£400	£1,000
4	£500	£1,000	£2,500
5	£1,000	£2,000	£5,000.

(2) In relation to a Code offence, a relevant reference to a particular level on the standard scale is to be read as referring to that level on the scale set out in the column of the table in subsection (1) that applies to offences committed on the date on which the offence was committed.

(3) In relation to—

(a) a relevant reference in an enactment or instrument passed or made before 12 March 2015 to level 5 on the standard scale, and

(b) an offence committed on or after that date,

subsection (2) is subject to section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (removal of limit on certain fines on conviction by magistrates' court).

(4) A reference to a level on the standard scale in an enactment or instrument made under an enactment (whenever passed or made) is a “relevant reference” to that level if—

(a) the enactment or instrument provides that a person convicted of a summary offence is liable on conviction to a fine or maximum fine by reference to that level, or

(b) it is a reference in an enactment which confers power by subordinate instrument to make a person liable on conviction of a summary offence (whether or not created by the instrument) to a fine or maximum fine by reference to that level.

In this section, “Code offence” is an offence of which the offender is convicted after the Code comes into force.

Limit on fines imposed by magistrates' courts in respect of young offenders

123

(1) This section applies where an offender—

(a) was convicted by a magistrates' court,

(b) was under 18 when convicted, and

(2) The court may not impose a fine of more than—

(a) £250, if the offender was under 14 when convicted, or

(b) £1,000, if the offender was 14 or over when convicted.

Exercise of powers

Fixing of fine: duty of court to inquire into individual offender's circumstances

124

(1) Before fixing the amount of any fine to be imposed on an offender who is an individual, a court must inquire into the offender's financial circumstances.

(2) For the power to make a financial circumstances order, see section 35.

(3) For modifications of this section where the court also makes an order under section 380 (power to order parent or guardian to pay fine, costs, compensation or surcharge), see section 128.

Exercise of court's powers to impose fine and fix amount

125

(1) The amount of any fine fixed by a court must be such as, in the opinion of the court, reflects the seriousness of the offence.

(2) In fixing the amount of any fine to be imposed on an offender (whether an individual or other person), a court must take into account the circumstances of the case including, in particular, the financial circumstances of the offender so far as they are known, or appear, to the court.

(3) Subsection (2) applies whether taking into account the financial circumstances of the offender has the effect of increasing or reducing the amount of the fine.

(4) In applying subsection (2), a court must not reduce the amount of a fine on account of any surcharge it orders the offender to pay under section 42, except to the extent that the offender has insufficient means to pay both.

(5) For modifications of this section where the court also makes an order under section 380 (power to order parent or guardian to pay fine, costs, compensation or surcharge), see section 128.

(6) For the effect of proceedings in relation to confiscation orders on the court's powers to impose or fix the amount of a fine, see the following provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002—

(a) section 13(4) (where confiscation order has been made);

(b) section 15A (where court sentences before confiscation proceedings).

Power to determine financial circumstances where offender is absent or fails to provide information

126

(1) This section applies where an offender—

(a) has been convicted in the offender's absence—

(i) in pursuance of section 11 or 12 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (non-appearance of accused), or

(ii) in proceedings conducted in accordance with section 16A of that Act (trial by single justice on the papers), or

(b) has failed—

(i) to provide a statement of the offender's financial circumstances in response to a request which is an official request for the purposes of section 20A of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (offence of making false statement as to financial circumstances),

(ii) to comply with an order under section 35(2) (statement as to offender's financial circumstances), or

(iii) otherwise to co-operate with the court in its inquiry into the offender's financial circumstances.

(2) If the court considers that it has insufficient information to make a proper determination of the financial circumstances of the offender for the purposes of section 125, it may make such determination as it considers appropriate.

Remission of fines following determination under section 126

127

(1) This section applies where a court has, in fixing the amount of a fine, determined the offender's financial circumstances under section 126 (offender absent or failing to provide information).

(2) If on subsequently inquiring into the offender's financial circumstances the court is satisfied that, had it had the results of that inquiry when sentencing the offender, it—

(a) would have fixed a smaller amount, or

(b) would not have fined the offender,

it may remit the whole or part of the fine.

(3) Where under this section the court remits the whole or part of a fine after a term of imprisonment, or detention under section 108 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, has been fixed under—

(a) section 129, or

(b) section 82(5) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (magistrates' powers in relation to default),

it must reduce the term by the corresponding proportion.

(4) In calculating any reduction required by subsection (3), any fraction of a day is to be ignored.

(5) Subsection (6) applies where—

(a) under this section the court remits the whole or part of a fine,

(b) the offender was ordered under section 42 to pay a surcharge, and

(6) The court must—

(a) determine how much the surcharge would have been if the fine had not included the amount remitted, and

(b) remit the balance of the surcharge.

Fines: payment

Fine imposed on offender aged under 18: payment by parent or guardian

128

(1) This section applies where a court—

(a) is dealing with an offender for an offence,

(b) the offender is aged under 18 when convicted, and

(2) Section 380 (order for payment by parent or guardian) applies to the fine.

(3) Subsections (4) to (6) apply for the purposes of any order made under section 380 against the offender's parent or guardian.

(4) The following provisions are to be read as if any reference to the financial circumstances of the offender were a reference to the financial circumstances of the offender's parent or guardian—

(a) section 124 (duty of court to inquire into individual offender's financial circumstances);

(b) subsections (2) and (3) of section 125 (fixing of fine: exercise of court's powers).

This is subject to subsection (7).

(5) Section 126 (power to determine financial circumstances where offender is absent or fails to provide information) does not apply (but see section 382).

(6) The reference to the offender's means in section 125(4) (insufficient means to pay fine and surcharge) is to be read as a reference to the means of the offender's parent or guardian.

(7) For the purposes of any order under section 380 made against a local authority, section 124 does not apply.

Fine imposed on offender by Crown Court: duty to make term in default order

129

(1) This section applies when the Crown Court imposes a fine on an offender who is aged 18 or over when convicted of the offence.

But it does not apply in relation to a fine imposed by the Crown Court on appeal against a decision of a magistrates' court.

(2) Subsections (3) to (5) also apply in relation to a fine imposed on such an offender—

(a) by the criminal division of the Court of Appeal, or

(b) by the Supreme Court on appeal from that division.

(3) The court must make an order (a “term in default order”) fixing a term—

(a) of imprisonment, or

(b) of detention under section 108 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000,

which the offender is to undergo if any sum which the offender is liable to pay is not duly paid or recovered.

(4) Column 3 of the following table sets out the maximum term of imprisonment or detention under section 108 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 which may be fixed by a term in default order in relation to a sum that is—

(a) more than the corresponding entry (if any) in column 1, but

(b) not more than the corresponding entry (if any) in column 2.

Amount of sum	Amount of sum	Maximum term
More than	Not more than	Maximum term
	£200	7 days
£200	£500	14 days
£500	£1,000	28 days
£1,000	£2,500	45 days
£2,500	£5,000	3 months
£5,000	£10,000	6 months
£10,000	£20,000	12 months
£20,000	£50,000	18 months
£50,000	£100,000	2 years
£100,000	£250,000	3 years
£250,000	£1,000,000	5 years
£1,000,000		10 years.

(5) The offender may not be committed to prison, or detained, by virtue of a term in default order on the same occasion as the fine is imposed unless—

(a) the offence to which the fine relates is punishable with imprisonment and the offender appears to the court to have sufficient means to pay the sum forthwith,

(b) it appears to the court that the offender is unlikely to remain long enough at a place of abode in the United Kingdom to enable payment of the sum to be enforced by other methods,

(c) on that occasion the court sentences the offender to immediate imprisonment, custody for life or detention in a young offender institution for that or another offence, or

(d) the offender is already serving a sentence of custody for life or a term—

(i) of imprisonment,

(ii) of detention in a young offender institution, or

(iii) of detention under section 108 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (detention in default).

(6) Where any person liable for the payment of a fine to which this section applies is sentenced by the court to, or is serving or otherwise liable to serve, a term (“the current term”)—

(a) of imprisonment,

(b) of detention in a young offender institution, or

the court may order that any term of imprisonment or detention fixed by a term in default order is not to begin to run until after the end of the current term.

(7) Nothing in any enactment which authorises the Crown Court to deal with an offender in any way in which a magistrates' court might have dealt, or could deal, with the offender restricts the powers conferred by this section.

This is subject to subsection (8).

(8) Where—

(a) the Crown Court imposes a fine in exercise of powers to deal with an offender in any way in which a magistrates' court might have dealt, or could deal, with the offender, and

(b) section 149(1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (maximum periods of imprisonment in default of payment of certain fines) specifies a period that would have applied to the fine had it been imposed by a magistrates' court,

the term imposed by the Crown Court under subsection (3) in relation to the fine must not exceed that period.

(9) For the purposes of any reference in this section, however expressed, to the term of imprisonment or other detention—

(a) to which a person has been sentenced, or

(b) which, or part of which, the person has served,

consecutive terms and terms which are wholly or partly concurrent are treated as a single term, unless the context otherwise requires.

(10) Any reference in this section, however expressed, to a previous sentence is to be read as a reference to a previous sentence passed by a court in Great Britain.

Fine imposed by Crown Court: power to allow time for payment or payment by instalments

130

When the Crown Court imposes a fine on an offender, it may make an order—

(a) allowing time for the payment of the fine, or

(b) directing payment of the fine by instalments of the amounts and on the dates specified in the order.

Fine imposed by Crown Court: power to search offender

131

See section 142 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 for the power of the Crown Court to search an offender on whom it imposes a fine.

Enforcement of fines imposed on offenders by Crown Court

132

(1) A fine imposed on an offender by the Crown Court is to be treated for the purposes of collection, enforcement and remission as having been imposed—

(a) by a magistrates' court specified in an order made by the Crown Court, or

(b) if no such order is made, by the magistrates' court by which the offender was sent to the Crown Court for trial under section 51 or 51A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998,

and as having been so imposed on conviction by the magistrates' court in question.

This is subject to subsection (5).

(2) Subsection (3) applies where a magistrates' court issues a warrant of commitment on a default in the payment of a fine imposed by the Crown Court on an offender.

(3) The term of imprisonment, or detention under section 108 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, specified in the warrant of commitment as the term which the offender is liable to serve is to be—

(a) the term fixed by the Crown Court under section 129(3), or

(b) if that term has been reduced under section 79(2) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (part payment) or section 85(2) of that Act (remission), that term as so reduced,

even if that term exceeds the period applicable to the case under section 149(1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (maximum periods of imprisonment in default of payment of certain fines).

(4) Subsections (1) to (3) apply in relation to a fine imposed on an offender—

(a) by the criminal division of the Court of Appeal, or

(b) by the Supreme Court on appeal from that division,

as they apply in relation to a fine imposed by the Crown Court.

References in those subsections to the Crown Court (except the reference in subsection (1)(b)) are to be read accordingly.

(5) A magistrates' court must not, under section 85(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 as applied by subsection (1), remit the whole or any part of a fine imposed by—

(a) the Crown Court,

(b) the criminal division of the Court of Appeal, or

without the consent of the Crown Court.

(6) Where payment of a fine is enforceable by a magistrates' court by virtue of this section, the fine is to be treated for the purposes of section 38 of the Courts Act 2003 (application of receipts of designated officers) as having been imposed by a magistrates' court.

CHAPTER 2 — Compensation orders

Compensation orders

Compensation order

133

In this Code “compensation order” means an order under this Chapter made in respect of an offender for an offence that requires the offender—

(a) to pay compensation for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from—

(i) the offence, or

(ii) any other offence which is taken into consideration by the court in determining the sentence for the offence, or

(b) to make payments for—

(i) funeral expenses, or

(ii) bereavement,

in respect of a death resulting from any such offence.

Making a compensation order

Compensation order: availability

134

(1) A compensation order is available to a court by or before which an offender is convicted of an offence.

This is subject to section 136 (road accidents).

(2) Where a compensation order is available, the court may make such an order whether or not it also deals with the offender for the offence in any other way.

Making a compensation order

135

(1) A compensation order must specify the amount to be paid under it.

(2) That amount must be the amount that the court considers appropriate, having regard to any evidence and any representations that are made by or on behalf of the offender or the prosecution.

But see also sections 136 to 139.

(3) In determining—

(a) whether to make a compensation order against an offender, or

(b) the amount to be paid under such an order,

the court must have regard to the offender's means, so far as they appear or are known to the court.

(4) Where the court considers—

(a) that it would be appropriate both to impose a fine and to make a compensation order, but

(b) that the offender has insufficient means to pay both an appropriate fine and appropriate compensation,

the court must give preference to compensation (though it may impose a fine as well).

(5) For modifications of this section where the court also makes an order under section 380 (power to order parent or guardian to pay fine, costs, compensation or surcharge), see section 140.

(6) For the effect of proceedings in relation to confiscation orders on the court's powers in relation to compensation orders, see the following provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002—

(a) section 13(4) (where confiscation order has been made);

(b) section 15A (where court sentences before confiscation proceedings).

Particular cases

Road accidents

136

(1) A compensation order may not be made in respect of funeral expenses or bereavement in respect of a death due to a road accident.

(2) A compensation order may be made in respect of injury, loss or damage due to a road accident only if it is in respect of—

(a) loss suffered by a person's dependants in consequence of the person's death,

(b) damage which is treated by section 137 as resulting from an offence under the Theft Act 1968 or Fraud Act 2006, or

(3) In subsection (2), “uninsured harm” means injury, loss or damage as respects which—

(a) the offender was uninsured in relation to the use of the vehicle in question, and

(b) compensation is not payable under any arrangements to which the Secretary of State is a party.

An offender is not uninsured in relation to the use of a vehicle for this purpose if that use of it is exempted from insurance by section 144 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

(4) Where a compensation order is made in respect of injury, loss or damage due to a road accident, the amount to be paid may include an amount representing all or part of any loss of, or reduction in, preferential rates of insurance attributable to the accident.

(5) In this Chapter, “road accident” means an accident arising out of the presence of a motor vehicle on a road.

Damage to property and clean-up costs resulting from certain offences

137

(1) Subsection (2) applies in the case of an offence under the Theft Act 1968 or Fraud Act 2006, where the property in question is recovered.

(2) Any damage to the property occurring while it was out of the owner's possession is to be treated for the purposes of section 133 as having resulted from the offence.

This applies regardless of how the damage was caused and who caused it.

(3) Section 29 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 makes provision about the person in whose favour a compensation order relating to certain offences involving damage to monuments in England is to be made, and section 59 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 makes equivalent provision for monuments in Wales.

(4) Section 33B of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (clean-up costs) provides for certain costs connected with certain offences relating to waste to be loss or damage resulting from those offences for the purposes of section 133.

Funeral expenses and bereavement: cases other than road accidents

138

(1) A compensation order in respect of funeral expenses may be made for the benefit of anyone who incurred the expenses.

(2) A compensation order in respect of bereavement may be made only for the benefit of a person for whose benefit a claim for damages for bereavement could be made under section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.

(3) The amount to be paid in respect of bereavement under a compensation order must not exceed the amount for the time being specified in section 1A(3) of that Act.

(4) This section is subject to section 136(1) (compensation order not available in respect of bereavement or funeral expenses in respect of a death due to a road accident).

Compensation orders made in respect of young offenders

Limit on compensation payable under compensation order of magistrates' court in case of young offender

139

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a magistrates' court is dealing with an offender for one or more offences (each, a “main offence”) of which the offender was convicted when aged under 18, and

(b) the court makes a compensation order in respect of—

(i) a main offence, or

(ii) any offence taken into consideration by the court in determining sentence for a main offence (a “TIC offence”).

(2) The compensation in respect of a main offence must not exceed £5,000.

(3) The total compensation in respect of main offences and TIC offences must not exceed £5,000 multiplied by the number of main offences.

(4) This section is subject to section 33B(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (clean-up costs relating to certain offences relating to waste).

Compensation order: order for payment by parent or guardian

140

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a court makes or is proposing to make a compensation order in respect of an offence, and

(b) the offender is aged under 18 when convicted.

(2) Section 380 (order for payment by parent or guardian) applies to the amount to be paid under any such compensation order.

(3) Subsection (4) applies for the purposes of any order made under section 380 against the offender's parent or guardian.

(4) The references in subsections (3) and (4) of section 135 (taking account of offender's means in determining amount of compensation) to the offender's means are to be read as references to the means of the offender's parent or guardian.

This is subject to subsection (5).

(5) For the purposes of any order made under section 380 against a local authority, section 135(3) does not apply.

Compensation orders: supplementary

Compensation orders: suspension of entitlement and appeals etc

141

(1) A person in whose favour a compensation order is made is not entitled to receive the amount due to the person until there is no further possibility of the order being varied or set aside on appeal (disregarding any power to grant leave to appeal out of time).

(2) Criminal Procedure Rules may make provision about the way in which the appropriate court is to deal with money paid in satisfaction of a compensation order where the entitlement of the person in whose favour it was made is suspended under subsection (1).

(3) The Court of Appeal may by order annul or vary any compensation order made by the Crown Court, even if the conviction is not quashed.

(4) Where a compensation order is annulled or varied under subsection (3)—

(a) the compensation order—

(i) if annulled, is not to take effect;

(ii) if varied, is to take effect as varied;

(b) the Court of Appeal must also vary any order previously made under section 42 (court's duty to order payment of surcharge) so as to secure that the offender's liability under that order is the same as it would have been if the offender were being dealt with by the Crown Court.

(5) Where the Supreme Court restores a conviction, it may make any compensation order which the court of trial could have made.

(6) Where the Supreme Court makes an order under subsection (5), it must also—

(a) make an order under section 42, or

(b) vary any order previously made under that section,

so as to secure that the offender's liability under the order under that section is the same as it would have been if the offender were being dealt with by the Crown Court.

(7) Where, in any proceedings in which an offender is convicted of one or more offences (each, a “main offence”), a compensation order is made against the offender in respect of an offence taken into consideration in determining sentence—

(a) the order ceases to have effect if the offender successfully appeals against conviction of the main offence or, if more than one, all the main offences;

(b) the offender may appeal against the order as if it were part of the sentence imposed in respect of the main offence or, if more than one, any of the main offences.

Limit on compensation payable under compensation order of magistrates' court: offences committed before 11 December 2013

142

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a magistrates' court is dealing with an offender for—

(i) an offence which was committed before 11 December 2013 (a “relevant offence”), or

(ii) one or more relevant offences, and

(b) the court makes a compensation order in respect of—

(i) any relevant offence,

(ii) any offence taken into consideration by the court in determining sentence for a relevant offence.

(2) The compensation in respect of a relevant offence must not exceed the maximum amount.

(3) The total compensation in respect of the offences taken into account in determining sentence for the relevant offence or relevant offences must not exceed the difference between—

(a) the relevant limit, and

(b) the total compensation in respect of the relevant offences.

(4) In this section—

(a) the relevant limit is the aggregate of the maximum amounts for each relevant offence;

(b) “the maximum amount” in relation to a relevant offence means the amount specified in column 2 of the following table for an offence committed on the date of the relevant offence—

Date of commission of main offence	Maximum amount
Before 1 December 1977	£400
On or after 1 December 1977 but before 1 May 1984	£1,000
On or after 1 May 1984 but before 1 October 1992	£2,000
On or after 1 October 1992 but before 11 December 2013	£5,000.

(5) This section is subject to section 33B(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (clean-up costs relating to certain offences relating to waste).

Review of compensation orders

143

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a compensation order has been made,

(b) there is no further possibility of the compensation order being varied or set aside on appeal (disregarding any power to grant leave to appeal out of time), and

(c) the person against whom it was made has not paid into court the whole of the amount required to be paid under the order.

(2) The appropriate court may, on the application of the person against whom the order was made—

(a) discharge the order, or

(b) reduce the amount which remains to be paid.

This is subject to subsection (3).

(3) The appropriate court may exercise that power only—

(a) if it appears to the court that the injury, loss or damage in respect of which the compensation order was made has been held in civil proceedings to be less than it was taken to be for the purposes of the order,

(b) if, in the case of a compensation order in respect of the loss of any property, it appears to the court that the property has been recovered by the person in whose favour the order was made, or

(i) it appears to the court that the means of the person against whom the order was made are insufficient or have been reduced (see subsections (5) and (6)), and

(ii) where the compensation order was made by the Crown Court, the appropriate court has obtained the consent of the Crown Court.

(4) Subsections (5) to (7) apply for the purposes of subsection (3)(c).

(5) The person's means are “insufficient” if they are not sufficient to satisfy in full—

(a) the compensation order, and

(b) every order of any of the following kinds made against the person in the same proceedings—

(i) a confiscation order under Part 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 or Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002;

(ii) an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013;

(iii) a slavery and trafficking reparation order under section 8 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

(6) The person's means “have been reduced” if they—

(a) have unexpectedly been substantially reduced since the compensation order was made, and

(b) seem unlikely to increase for a considerable period.

(7) If the compensation order was made on appeal it is to be treated—

(a) if made on an appeal from a magistrates' court, as if made by that magistrates' court;

(b) if made on an appeal—

(i) from the Crown Court, or

(ii) from the Court of Appeal,

as if made by the Crown Court.

Effect of compensation order on subsequent award of damages in civil proceedings

144

(1) This section has effect where—

(a) a compensation order has been made in favour of any person in respect of any injury, loss or damage, and

(b) a claim by the person in civil proceedings for damages in respect of the injury, loss or damage subsequently falls to be determined.

(2) The damages in the civil proceedings must be assessed without regard to the order.

(3) But the claimant may recover only an amount equal to the aggregate of—

(a) any amount by which the damages assessed exceed the compensation, and

(b) a sum equal to any portion of the compensation which the person fails to recover (“unrecovered compensation”).

(4) The claimant may not enforce the judgment, so far as it relates to unrecovered compensation, without the leave of the court.

Compensation orders: interpretation

145

(1) In this Chapter—

“appropriate court”, in relation to a compensation order, means the magistrates' court which, by virtue of section 41(1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, for the time being has functions in relation to collection and enforcement of the order;

“road accident” has the meaning given by section 136.

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter a compensation order is made in respect of an offence if it relates to personal injury, loss, damage or death resulting from that offence.

For this purpose, “offence” includes an offence taken into consideration by a court when sentencing an offender for an offence of which the offender has been convicted.

Compensation etc under other Acts

146

For provision about other orders requiring payment of compensation etc that are available to courts dealing with offenders for particular offences, see—

CHAPTER 3 — Restitution and restoration

Restitution order where goods stolen or obtained by blackmail or fraud

147

(1) In this Code, “restitution order” means an order made in an offender's case with respect to particular goods (referred to in this section as “the stolen goods”) that—

(a) requires anyone who has possession or control of the stolen goods (“the holder”) to restore them to any other person entitled to recover them from the holder,

(b) requires any other goods representing the stolen goods to be transferred or delivered to any person entitled to recover those other goods from the offender,

(c) requires payment of a sum out of any removed money to any person who would be entitled to recover the stolen goods from the offender if they were in the offender's possession, or

(d) requires payment of a sum out of any removed money to—

(i) any person to whom the offender has sold the stolen goods, or

(ii) any person from whom the offender has borrowed money on the security of the stolen goods.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) goods represent the stolen goods if they are the proceeds of disposal or realisation of all or part of the stolen goods, or of other goods which represent the stolen goods;

(b) “removed money” means money of the offender which was taken out of the offender's possession when the offender was apprehended.

Restitution order: availability

148

(1) A restitution order with respect to particular goods is available to a court in an offender's case where—

(a) the goods have been stolen, and

(b) either—

(i) the offender is convicted by or before the court of an offence with reference to the theft of the goods, whether or not the stealing was the gist of it (an “offence related to the theft”), or

(ii) the court takes an offence related to the theft into consideration in determining sentence for any other offence of which the offender is convicted by or before the court.

(2) A restitution order under section 147(1)(b) is available only on the application of the person in whose favour it is to be made.

(3) A restitution order with respect to any goods under section 147(1)(d) is available only if the court has made a restitution order under section 147(1)(a) with respect to the goods.

(4) Making a deferment order, or otherwise deferring sentence, does not preclude a court from making a restitution order.

Making a restitution order

149

(1) This section applies where a restitution order is available to a court in an offender's case.

(2) The court may make a restitution order only if in the opinion of the court the relevant facts sufficiently appear from any of the following—

(a) evidence given at the trial;

(b) any written statements or admissions which were made for use, and would have been admissible, as evidence at the trial;

(c) any documents served on the offender in pursuance of regulations made under paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (procedure where persons sent for trial);

(d) admissions made by or on behalf of any person in connection with any proposed exercise of the powers to make a restitution order.

(3) If the court makes restitution orders under paragraphs (b) and (c) of section 147(1) in respect of the theft of the same goods, they must not result in the person in whose favour they are made recovering more than the value of those goods.

(4) A restitution order under section 147(1)(c) may not require payment of more than the value of the stolen goods.

(5) Subsections (6) and (7) apply in relation to making to a restitution order under section 147(1)(d) in relation to any goods.

(6) The court may make the restitution order only if satisfied that—

(a) the purchaser was acting in good faith when purchasing the goods, or

(b) the lender was acting in good faith when lending money on the security of the goods.

(7) The restitution order may not require payment of more than—

(a) the amount which the purchaser paid for the purchase, or

(b) the amount owed to the lender in respect of the loan.

Restitution orders: supplementary provision about appeals

150

(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where a restitution order has been made in an offender's case against any person.

Order in respect of offence taken into consideration2Subsection (3) applies where the restitution order was made in respect of an offence taken into consideration by the court in determining sentence for one or more other offences of which the offender was convicted (each, a “main offence”).3The restitution order ceases to have effect if the offender successfully appeals against conviction of the main offence or, if more than one, all the main offences.

Initial period of suspension4Subsection (5) applies to a restitution order made by a magistrates' court, unless the court directs under subsection (6) that it is not to apply.5The restitution order does not take effect until there is no further possibility of the order being varied or set aside on appeal (disregarding any power to grant leave to appeal out of time).6A magistrates' court may direct that subsection (5) is not to apply to a restitution order if—athe restitution order is made under section 147(1)(a) or (b), andbthe court is of the opinion that the title to the goods to be restored or, as the case may be, delivered or transferred under the order is not in dispute.7A restitution order is to be treated as an order for the restitution of property for the purposes of section 30 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (effect of appeals on such orders).8See, in particular, subsection (1) of that section for provision about—athe initial period of suspension of a restitution order made by the Crown Court, andbthe Crown Court's power to direct that the initial period of suspension is not to apply.

Restitution orders: interpretation and application

151

(1) In this Chapter, references to stealing are to be read in accordance with—

(a) section 1(1) of the Theft Act 1968 (read with the provisions of that Act relating to the construction of section 1(1)), and

(b) subsections (2) and (3).

(See also section 119(2) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which treats unreasonable refusal to deliver pawn as stealing for the purposes of this Chapter.)

(2) In this Chapter, references to goods which have been stolen include references to goods which have been obtained—

(a) by blackmail, or

(b) by fraud (within the meaning of the Fraud Act 2006);

and references to “stealing” and “theft” are to be read accordingly.

(3) In determining for the purposes of this Chapter whether goods have been stolen, it is immaterial whether the stealing occurred—

(a) before or after the Theft Act 1968, or the Fraud Act 2006, came into force, or

(b) in England and Wales or elsewhere,

provided that the stealing (if not an offence under either of those Acts) amounted to an offence where and when the goods were stolen.

(4) In this Chapter, “goods”, except so far as the context otherwise requires, includes money and every other description of property (within the meaning of the Theft Act 1968) except land, and includes things severed from the land by stealing.

(5) A restitution order may be made in respect of money owed by the Crown.

CHAPTER 4 — Forfeiture, deprivation of property etc

Deprivation order

152

In this Code “deprivation order” means an order under this Chapter which—

(a) is made in respect of an offender for an offence, and

(b) deprives the offender of any rights in the property to which it relates.

Deprivation order: availability

153

(1) A deprivation order relating to any property to which subsection (2) applies is available to the court by or before which an offender is convicted of an offence.

(2) This subsection applies to property which—

(a) has been lawfully seized from the offender, or

(b) was in the offender's possession or under the offender's control when—

(i) the offender was apprehended for the offence, or

(ii) a summons in respect of it was issued,

if subsection (3) or (5) applies.

(3) This subsection applies if the court is satisfied that the property—

(a) has been used for the purpose of committing, or facilitating the commission of, any offence, or

(b) was intended by the offender to be used for that purpose.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), facilitating the commission of an offence includes taking any steps after it has been committed for the purpose of—

(a) disposing of any property to which the offence relates, or

(b) avoiding apprehension or detection.

(5) This subsection applies if—

(a) the offence mentioned in subsection (1), or

(b) an offence which is taken into consideration by the court in determining the offender's sentence,

consists of unlawful possession of the property.

(6) Subsection (1) is subject to—

(a) any restriction on forfeiture in any enactment contained in an Act passed on or after 29 July 1988,

(b) section 33C(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (subsection (1) not to apply where section 33C of that Act provides for forfeiture of vehicles in connection with offence under that section), and

(c) paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 to the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (subsection (1) not to apply where person convicted of offence under Part 2, 3 or 5 of that Act).

Vehicle to be treated as used for purpose of certain offences

154

(1) This section applies where a person commits an offence listed in subsection (2) by—

(a) driving, attempting to drive, or being in charge of, a vehicle,

(b) failing to comply with a requirement made under section 7 or 7A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (failure to provide specimen for analysis or laboratory test or to give permission for such a test) in the course of an investigation into whether the offender had committed an offence while driving, attempting to drive, or being in charge of, a vehicle, or

(c) failing, as the driver of a vehicle, to comply with subsection (2) or (3) of section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (duty to stop and give information or report accident).

(2) Those offences are—

(a) an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 which is punishable with imprisonment;

(b) an offence of manslaughter;

(3) The vehicle is to be regarded for the purposes of section 153 (and section 157(3)(b)) as used for the purpose of committing the offence (including where it is committed by aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring).

Purported intimate images to be treated as used for purpose of certain offences

154A

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a person commits an offence under section 66E of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (creating purported intimate image of adult).

(2) The purported intimate image to which the offence relates, and anything containing it, is to be regarded for the purposes of section 153 (and section 157(3)(b)) as used for the purposes of committing the offence (including where it is committed by aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring).

(3) Subsection (4) applies where a person commits an offence under section 66F of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (requesting the creation of purported intimate image of adult).

(4) A purported intimate image which is connected with the offence, and anything containing it, is to be regarded for the purposes of section 153 (and section 157(3)(b)) as used for the purposes of committing the offence (including where it is committed by aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring).

(5) A purported intimate image is connected with an offence under section 66F of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 if —

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