Judges could be issued with a guideline for the offence of using violence to secure entry, which is often committed in a domestic abuse context
A 12-week consultation, launched by the Sentencing Council this week, asks respondents for feedback on proposed culpability and harm factors, the sentencing table, aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and inclusion of the domestic abuse overarching principles. The current statutory maximum penalty is six months in prison.
Sentencing Council member Jo King said: ‘Using violence to secure entry is often committed alongside other offending within a domestic abuse context.
‘This offence can happen at night, with persistent force, and with children present. It is terrifying for victims, and we want to ensure that the guideline properly reflects that.’
Respond to the consultation, ‘Using violence to secure entry guideline’, by 14 August.
