Sentencing Manual
The CPS Sentencing Manual has been designed as a source of information for advocates to assist them with trial preparation, in particular when addressing the court at the sentencing hearing. It consists of templates, grouped by subject headings, based on the chapter headings in Archbold, and provides sentencing guidance on the most commonly encountered offences. It is intended to complement established texts on sentencing, such as Current Sentencing Practice.
Each template signposts the advocate to relevant sentencing guidelines or guideline cases; gives details of statutory limitations and maximum sentences; identifies potential aggravating and mitigating factors for a given offence; and highlights relevant ancillary orders, or other provisions relevant to sentence.
The Manual is also a tool to assist the reviewing lawyer complete the Plea and Sentence document (PSD) as required under the Addendum to the Attorney Generals Guidelines on the Acceptance of Pleas and the Prosecutors Role in the Sentencing Exercise 2005 as amended.
By providing a consistent standard of sentencing assistance to the court, the CPS aims to reduce the number of erroneous sentences being passed and thereby reduce the number of cases referred to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
Administration of justice
Criminal damage
- Arson - simple
- Arson - reckless
- Arson - with intent
- Damage - simple
- Damage with intent
- Malicious damage
- Possession with intent to damage
- Unauthorised access to a computer
- Unauthorised modification
- Obstructing engines
- Threats to damage
- Unauthorised access with intent
Drugs
- Allowing premises to be used
- Cultivation of cannabis
- Importing amphetamine
- Importing cannabis
- Importing Class A drugs
- Possession Class A drugs
- Possessing Class B and C drugs
- Producing drugs
- Supply Class A drugs
- Supply Class B and C drugs
Explosives
Financial crime
- Fraud by abuse of position
- Fraud by failing to disclose information
- Fraud by false representation
- Making or supplying article for use in fraud
- Possession of articles for use in fraud
Forgery
- Cheating at gaming
- Copying a false instrument
- Counterfeiting hallmarks
- Custody or control of a false instrument
- Custody or control of a false instrument with intent
- Custody or control of equipment
- Custody or control of equipment with intent
- Destruction/falsification of registers
- Dies and stamps
- Falsifying Certificate of Service
- Forgery
- Forgery or falsification of Mental Health Act documents
- Forgery or falsification of proof marks
- Fraud
- Fraudulent medium
- Making false identity documents with intent
- Making a false statement to obtain a passport
- Making false entries in a copy of a register
- Making or supplying articles for use in a fraud
- Obtaining services dishonestly
- Personification for the purposes of bail
- Personification of voters
- Possession of false identity documents
- Possession of articles for use in a fraud
- Possession of false identity documents with intent
- Pretending to act under authority of Court
- Using a copy of a false instrument
- Using a false instrument
- Wilful injury or forgery of instruments
Homicide
- Infanticide
- Involuntary manslaughter
- Manslaughter - Diminished responsibility
- Manslaughter - Provocation
- Manslaughter - Suicide pact
- Murder
Offences against the person
- Assault ocassioning actual bodily harm
- Assault with intent to resist arrest
- Attempted murder
- Common assault
- Harassment
- Kidnapping - false imprisonment
Offences against the Person
- Racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm
- Racially or religiously aggravated actual bodily harm
- Racially or religiously aggravated common assault
- Racially or religiously aggravated harassment
- Soliciting to murder
- Threats to kill
- Wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm
- Wounding or inflciting grievous bodily harm with intent
Offensive weapons
Offensive weapons - Firearms
- Section 1 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 2 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 3 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 4 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 5 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 16 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 16a Firearms Act 1968
- Section 17 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 18 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 19 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 20 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 21 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 22(2) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 23(4) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 23(1) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 24(1) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 24(2) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 24(3) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 24(4) Firearms Act 1968
- Section 25 Firearms Act 1968
- Section 28 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
- Section 36 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
Public morals (section not currently available)
Public nuisance
Public order
Revenue Offences
- Fraud, False Accounting, Fraudulent evasion of VAT, False statement for VAT purposes, Conduct amounting to an offence
- Fraudulent Conduct to Obtain Tax Credits
- Fraudulent Evasion of Income Tax
Road traffic offences
Sexual offences
- S1. Rape
- S2. Sexual assault by penetration
- S3. Sexual assault
- S4. Causing sexual activity
- S5. Rape of child under 13
- S6. Assault of a child under 13 by penetration
- S7. Sexual assault of a child under 13
- S8. Causing or Inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
- S9 and S13 Sexual Activity with a child - youth
- S9. Sexual activity with a child
- S10 and 13. Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity - youth
- S10. Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
- S11 and 13. Engaging in sexual activity in presence of child - youth
- S11. Engaging in sexual activity in presence of child
- S12 and 13. Causing child to watch sexual act - youth
- S12. Causing child to watch sexual act
- S14. Arranging child sex offence
- S15. Grooming
Theft
- Abstracting electricity
- Blackmail - commercial
- Blackmail - debt enforcement
- Blackmail - sexual
- Aggravated burglary
- Assault with intent to rob
- Burglary dwelling
- Burglary non-dwelling
- False representation to obtain benefits
- Handling
- Obtaining by deception - benefit fraud
- Obtaining by deception - mortgage fraud
- Obtaining property by deception - cheques
- Obtaining property by deception - cloned cards
- Obtaining property by deception - commercial
- Obtaining property by deception - false works
- Obtaining property by deception - general
- Obtaining property by deception - insurance
- Robbery
- Theft - breach of trust
- Theft - general
