These were chosen from the results of a public consultation in 2020, ‘What next for the Sentencing Council?’, which sought views on future priorities. However, producing and revising sentencing guidelines will remain the Council’s core focus.
The five objectives are: promoting consistency and transparency in sentencing; ensuring all work is evidence-based and working to strengthen the data and evidence that underpins it; exploring and taking action on equality and diversity issues; considering evidence on effectiveness of sentencing and raising awareness of relevant issues; and working to strengthen confidence in in sentencing by improving public understanding, including among victims, witnesses and offenders.
Lord Justice Holroyde, Chairman of the Sentencing Council, said: ‘There was broad support for our own view that producing and revising guidelines should remain our primary focus but some respondents felt we could add more value by placing more emphasis on other aspects of our work.
‘The strategic objectives we have set ourselves for the next five years reflect the statutory duties of the Council, responses to the consultation and the resources we have at our disposal.’
