The guidelines, which judges and magistrates must follow unless doing so would not be in the interests of justice, are due to take effect on 1 July. Aggravated burglary will attract between one and 13 years in custody, domestic burglary between a community order and six years in custody, and non-domestic burglary between discharge and five years in custody.
Val Castell, chair of the Magistrates’ Association’s adult court committee, said: ‘We believe that introducing a middle category for both culpability and harm will assist magistrates with assessing the appropriate starting point for sentencing.
‘We are also pleased that the guideline now better reflects the levels and types of emotional impact that can result from a burglary offence.’
Read the new guidelines here.
