Citation, extent and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

(3) In these Regulations, “ the Act ” means the Sentencing Act 2026 .

Provisions coming into force on 2nd September 2026

2. The following provisions of the Act come into force on 2nd September 2026—

(a)section 23(1), (2), (6), (8), (11)(b) and (c) and (12) to (15) (release);

(b)section 24(1)(a)(ii), (2) and (6) (release: consequential amendments relating to driving disqualification);

(c)save as set out in regulations 3 to 5—

(i)section 23(3) to (5), (7), (10) and (11)(a) and (d) (release);

(ii)section 24(1)(a)(i) and (iii), (3)(a) and (5)(a) (release: consequential amendments relating to driving disqualification).

Provisions coming into force between 2nd September 2026 and 8th June 2027

3.—(1) In relation to a person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed before 2nd September 2026 and who, immediately before that date, is in custody or detention pursuant to the sentence, the provisions in regulation 2(c) come into force on the relevant day.

(2) In this regulation, “ the relevant day ” means—

(a)2nd September 2026, where the relevant sentence is less than 575 days;

(b)13th October 2026, where the relevant sentence is greater than 574 days and less than 883 days;

(c)10th November 2026, where the relevant sentence is greater than 882 days and less than 1163 days;

(d)8th December 2026, where the relevant sentence is greater than 1162 days and less than 1562 days;

(e)12th January 2027, where the relevant sentence is greater than 1561 days and less than 2122 days;

(f)9th February 2027, where the relevant sentence is greater than 2121 days and less than 2759 days;

(g)9th March 2027, where the relevant sentence is greater than 2758 days and less than 3284 days;

(h)13th April 2027, where the relevant sentence is greater than 3283 days and less than 3655 days;

(i)11th May 2027, where the relevant sentence is greater than 3654 days and less than 4397 days;

(j)8th June 2027, where the relevant sentence is greater than 4396 days.

(3) In this regulation, “ relevant sentence ”, in relation to a person who falls within paragraph (1), means—

(a)where the person is serving two or more concurrent sentences of imprisonment or detention immediately before 2nd September 2026, the longest of those sentences at that time;

(b)in all other cases, the sentence of imprisonment or detention which the person is serving immediately before 2nd September 2026.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2), the length of the relevant sentence is the length calculated immediately before 2nd September 2026.

Provisions coming into force on 12th October 2027

4. In relation to a person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed before 2nd September 2026 and who, immediately before that date, is on licence subject to a curfew condition within the meaning of section 253 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003(2), the provisions in regulation 2(c) come into force on 12th October 2027.

Further provision regarding section 23(10)

5. Section 23(10) of the Act (release) does not come into force in relation to a sentence under section 91 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000(3) or section 250 of the Sentencing Code.