Criminal Justice Act 2003, section 240A

Time remanded on bail to count towards time served : terms of imprisonment or detention and detention and training orders

Part 12 Sentencing

(1)[F233 Subsection (2) appliesF233] where—

(a)a court sentences an offender to imprisonment for a term in respect of an offence [F234 of which the offender was convicted before 1 December 2020F234] F235 ... ,

(b)the offender was remanded on bail by a court in course of or in connection with proceedings for the offence, or any related offence, after the coming into force of section 21 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, and

(c) the offender's bail was subject to a qualifying curfew condition and an electronic monitoring condition (“the relevant conditions”).

(2)Subject to [F236 subsections (3A) and (3B)F236] , the court must direct that the credit period is to count as time served by the offender as part of the sentence.

F237[F238 (3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F239 (3ZA)Subsection (3ZB) applies where—

(a)an offender is serving a term of imprisonment in respect of an offence, and

(b)the court has made a declaration under section 325 of the Sentencing Code specifying a credit period in relation to the sentence.

[F240 (3ZAA)Subsection (3ZB) also applies where—

(a)a court, on or after the day on which Schedule 16 to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came into force, makes a detention and training order in respect of an offender for an offence, and

(b)the court has made a declaration under section 325 of the Sentencing Code specifying a credit period in relation to the order.

(3ZAB) In this section any reference to a “sentence”, in relation to an offender, is to—

(a)a term of imprisonment being served by the offender as mentioned in subsection (3ZA)(a), or

(b)a detention and training order made in respect of the offender as mentioned in subsection (3ZAA)(a).F240]

(3ZB)Subject to subsections (3A) and (3B), the credit period is to count as time served by the offender as part of the sentence.F239]

(3A)A day of the credit period counts as time served—

(a)in relation to only one sentence, and

(b)only once in relation to that sentence.

(3B)A day of the credit period is not to count as time served as part of any [F241 automatic release period served by the offenderF241] (see section 255B(1) [F242 or 255BA(1)F242] ).F238]

F243(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F244(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F244(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(11)[F245 Subsections (7) to (9) and (11) of section 240ZAF245] apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section but as if—

(a)in subsection (7)—

(i)the reference to a suspended sentence is to be read as including a reference to a sentence to which an order under section 118(1) of [F246 the PCC(S)A 2000F246] relates;

(ii) in paragraph (a) after “Schedule 12” there were inserted or section 119(1)(a) or (b) of [F247 the PCC(S)A 2000 F247] ; and

(b) [F248 in subsection (9) the references to subsections (3) and (5) of section 240ZA are F248] to be read as a reference to [F249 subsections (2) and (3ZB) F249] of this section and, in paragraph (b), after “Chapter” there were inserted or Part 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 .

(12)In this section—

  • [F250 “curfew requirement” means a requirement (however described) to remain at one or more specified places for a specified number of hours in any given day, provided that the requirement is imposed by a court or the Secretary of State and arises as a result of a conviction; F250]

  • “electronic monitoring condition” means any electronic monitoring requirements imposed under section 3(6ZAA) of the Bail Act 1976 for the purpose of securing the electronic monitoring of a person's compliance with a qualifying curfew condition;

  • “qualifying curfew condition” means a condition of bail which requires the person granted bail to remain at one or more specified places for a total of not less than 9 hours in any given day; F251 ...

  • F251 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F230]

Definitions used in section 240A 5

court

“court” (without more), except in Chapter 7, does not include a service court , but this does not apply where a contrary intention appears from any provision of the Armed Forces Act 2006 ;

Defined in s.305(1) · see it in the full Act
the court

(2) In relation to such an application or reference, any reference to “the court” in section 269(2) to (5) and Schedule 21 is to be read as a reference to the High Court.

Defined in Sch.22 para.11(2) · see it in the full Act
detention and training order

(3) In sections 240ZA and 240A, “detention and training order” has the meaning given by section 233 of the Sentencing Code.

Defined in s.242(2) · see it in the full Act
suspended sentence

“suspended sentence” and “suspended sentence order” have the meaning given by section 286 of the Sentencing Code ;

Defined in s.305(1) · see it in the full Act
the PCC(S)A 2000

“the PCC(S)A 2000” means the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 ;

Defined in s.305(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 240A 54

R v Maddison Marie Barrett

[2025] EWCA Crim 1275 · 18 September 2025Disapplies

Disapplies section 240A as the basis for statutory credit: it had been repealed and did not govern time spent on a non-qualifying doorstep curfew. That time could instead be recognised by discretionary sentence reduction. (see paras [25]; [27])

R v John Maughan

[2025] EWCA Crim 1302 · 9 September 2025

The court applied the requirement that credit for a qualifying curfew count as time served as part of the sentence, and made the omitted direction on appeal. (see paras [2]–[4])

Stuart Layden v R

[2025] EWCA Crim 659 · 23 May 2025

The court treated section 240 A as the provision whose effect section 322 of the Sentencing Act 2020 requires a sentencing court to take into account for bail subject to qualifying restrictions. It did not treat it as directly crediting post-sentence bail. (see paras [10]-[11]; [23]-[25])

34 more judgments, and what each says about section 240A, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

27 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F230S. 240A inserted (3.11.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 21(4), 153; S.I. 2008/2712, art. 2, Sch. para. 1 (subject to arts. 3, 4)
  2. F231Words in s. 240A heading substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(8), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  3. F232Words in s. 240A heading substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), s. 208(5)(s), Sch. 16 para. 3(2)
  4. F233Words in s. 240A(1) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 220(2)(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  5. F234Words in s. 240A(1)(a) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 220(2)(b) (with Sch. 27) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1236, regs. 1, 4(7)(b)); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  6. F235Words in s. 240A(1)(a) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 16 para. 14; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(n)
  7. F236Words in s. 240A(2) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(2), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  8. F237S. 240A(3) repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  9. F238S. 240A(3)-(3B) substituted for s. 240A(3)-(8) (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(3), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  10. F239S. 240A(3ZA)(3ZB) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 220(3) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  11. F240S. 240A(3ZAA)(3ZAB) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), s. 208(5)(s), Sch. 16 para. 3(3)
  12. F241Words in s. 240A(3B) substituted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), ss. 9(7), 22(1) (with Sch. 7 para. 5); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(i)
  13. F242Words in s. 240A(3B) inserted (31.3.2026 for specified purposes and otherwise coming into force in accordance with reg. 4 of the commencing S.I.) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 33(4), 49(1) (with s. 33(14)); S.I. 2026/86, regs. 3(b)(iv), 4 text inserted for certain specified purposes only, see the commentary.
  14. F243S. 240A(8) repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  15. F244S. 240A(9)(10) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(5), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  16. F245Words in s. 240A(11) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(6)(a), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  17. F246Words in s. 240A(11)(a)(i) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 220(4) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  18. F247Words in s. 240A(11)(a)(ii) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 220(4) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  19. F248Words in s. 240A(11)(b) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(6)(b), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  20. F249Words in s. 240A(11)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 220(5) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  21. F250Words in s. 240A(12) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(7)(a), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)
  22. F251Words in s. 240A(12) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 109(7)(b), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)

Modifications

  1. C21S. 240A modified in part (1.12.2020 immediately before the consolidation date (see 2020 c. 9, ss. 3, 5(2)(3) and 2020 c. 17, ss. 2, 416)) by Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Act 2020 (c. 9), ss. 1, 5(2)(3); S.I. 2012/1236, reg. 2
  2. C22S. 240A applied (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), ss. 325(2), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  3. C23S. 240A(2) excluded (3.11.2008) by The Remand on Bail (Disapplication of Credit Period) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2793), art. 2
  4. C24S. 240A(2) excluded (3.11.2008) by The Remand on Bail (Disapplication of Credit Period) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2793), art. 3
  5. C25S. 240A(2) excluded (3.11.2008) by The Remand on Bail (Disapplication of Credit Period) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2793), art. 4