Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Act 2025

Key Points

• It sets out how pre-sentence reports are used in criminal sentencing and their role alongside sentencing guidelines.
• Two amendments (Amendment 3 and Amendment 4) were proposed on 30 April 2025 and both were defeated by large majorities.
• The Act has received Royal Assent and is now the law.
• Party support for the bill came from the Conservative side and several smaller parties, while Labour and some other groups opposed it.

Progress

The bill has completed its passage through Parliament and received Royal Assent, making it law. It originated in the Commons and, after two defeated amendments, progressed to enactment.

Voting

Two amendments were defeated on 30 April 2025 (Amendment 4: 88 Aye, 226 No; Amendment 3: 86 Aye, 222 No). The Conservatives and some allied parties voted in favour, while Labour and several other parties opposed the amendments and the bill.