11 February 2016
The Sentencing Council has proposed stricter guidance for courts when they sentence offenders who plead guilty. Under a new draft guideline, offenders must plead guilty the first time they are asked in court to qualify for a one third discount. After that, the maximum discount is one-fifth. The reductions available will drop the closer to the trial date the plea is entered. The consultation ends on 5 May. More details can be found on the Sentencing Council website.
