Guest blog: new sentencing guidelines for sexual offences

[KateMumsnet]

In a guest blog today, District Judge Anne Arnold outlines some planned changes to the guidelines for how sex offenders should be sentenced. The Sentencing Council is proposing that the circumstances surrounding individual sex offences should be more comprehensively taken into account in the sentencing process - more detail in the blog.

Do have a look and, if you have a minute, let them know what you think on their consultation page. You don't have to comment on every type of offence, just the ones that most concern you.

And please do let us have your thoughts here on the thread - if you blog about it, don't forget to post your URLs.

[SarahHillWheeler]

Thanks for posting this and the guest blog. Everything District Judge Anne Arnold says makes a lot of sense. It may not be headline grabbing stuff (I suspect a change in the substantive law, changing attitudes in the media and judiciary are also needed) but it sounds like some steps in the right direction. I particularly think the reference to additional aggravating factors will help. I've down loaded the consultation paper to my kindle.

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

I posted a link to the consultation a while back to bring it to the attention of ppl here.

Thank you for highlighting it again :)

[LineRunner]

Thanks - I've started my response. It's good you can save it and return to it later.

[swallowedAfly]

i appreciate it's not what you are looking at but one huge concern has been the outrageously light sentences and offensive statements given by judges - some time and time again. there has to be some significant training of judges and there has to be a way to remove judges who repeatedly give shockingly lenient sentences to sex offenders and make victim blaming statements and/or trivialise sexual crimes.

if a judge is totally out of kilter with informed public opinion they should be removed from office. it is in no way acceptable to have judges saying well you and your mates raped an 11 year old but you're right she does look more like 14 and she did consent (please god teach them that children cannot consent to sex with an adult) so here's a few months sentence.

there have been some horrific cases and it's the same judges repeatedly. one has to question their own attitudes to children and women when they so consistently make judgments like this.

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Oh hell yes there are some judges who need sacking.

Meanwhile, District Judge Anne Arnold for some very thoughtful and sensible proposals. I'll look at the consultation thingy when I'm less knackered.

[IlianaDupree]

Will look in depth later.

Agree that those in positions of power within the court system should be held to a code of conduct re personal expression of their opinions of the law.