Loading…

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 1071

CRIMINAL LAW, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2025

Made

2nd October 2025

Coming into force

23rd October 2025

The Lord Chancellor makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 19(1) of Schedule 23 to the Sentencing Act 2020 (“the Act”)(1).

The Lord Chancellor has consulted the Sentencing Council for England and Wales in accordance with paragraph 19(2) of Schedule 23 to the Act.

In accordance with section 407(7) of, and paragraph 19(4) of Schedule 23 to, the Act, a draft of these Regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations come into force 21 days after the day on which they are made.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales only.

Amendment of Schedule 21 to the Sentencing Code

2.—(1) Schedule 21 to the Sentencing Code(2) (determination of minimum term in relation to mandatory life sentence for murder etc.) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 9—

(a)after sub-paragraph (ba), insert—

“(bb)where the offence was committed on or after the day on which the Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2025 came into force, the fact that the murder was connected with—

(i)the end of the offender’s intimate personal relationship with the victim,

(ii)the victim intending to bring about the end of that intimate personal relationship, or

(iii)a belief by the offender as to a thing mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii),”;

(b)after sub-paragraph (c), insert—

“(ca)where the offence was committed on or after the day on which the Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2025 came into force, the fact that the murder involved strangulation, suffocation or asphyxiation,”.

David Lammy

Lord Chancellor

Ministry of Justice

2nd October 2025

(1)

2020 c. 17.

(2)

For the meaning of “Sentencing Code”, see section 1 of the Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17).

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
The Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2025 (2025/1071)
Version from: original only

Displaying information

Status of this instrument

in force Provision is in force
in force* In force only for specified purposes (for detail about the purposes see/hover footnote)
not in force Not in force in England (may be in force in other geographies, see footnotes)
italics Defined term
dfn Defined term (alternative style)
gry bckgrd the in-force status of the provision is complex, check the footnotes
footnote commentary transitional and savings in force status related provisions geo extent insert/omit source count in force adj
Defined Term Section/Article ID Scope of Application

Status of changes to instrument text

The list includes made instruments, both those in force and those yet to come into force. Typically, instruments that are not yet in force (hence their changes are not incorporated into the text above) are indicated by description 'not yet' in the changes made column.