Consultation Hub

This site lists consultations that are run by the Ministry of Justice.

For more information on current government consultations go to GOV.UK.

Open Consultations

  • What next for the Sentencing Council?

    Public consultation to help shape the future objectives and priorities of the Sentencing Council. **The closing date of this consultation has been extended to 9 September 2020** More

    Closes 9 September 2020

  • Assault Offences

    Why Assault offences? The Sentencing Council’s Assault Definitive Guideline was the first guideline developed by the Sentencing Council and came into force in 2011. It includes guidelines for sentencing offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861: section 18 GBH (causing... More

    Closes 15 September 2020

  • Unauthorised use of a trademark sentencing guideline

    What is this consultation about? The Sentencing Council is proposing to issue two guidelines for the offence of unauthorised use of a trade mark contrary to section 92 of the Trade Marks Act 1994; one for sentencing individuals and one for sentencing organisations. What is... More

    Closes 30 September 2020

See All Open Consultations

Closed Consultations

  • Criminal Legal Aid Review: An accelerated package of measures amending the criminal legal aid fee schemes

    This consultation was extended on 27 March until further notice due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the consultation will now close on Wednesday 17 June. Criminal defence practitioners play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law. As a former criminal barrister, I greatly... More

    Closed 17 June 2020

  • Consultation on Improving the Victims’ Code

    As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, this consultation has been extended and will now run until 28 May 2020. Being a victim of crime can be life-changing, and how people are treated within the justice system can make a huge difference to their ability to cope and recover. As Victims’... More

    Closed 28 May 2020

  • Drug Offences Consultation

    Why Drug offences? The Sentencing Council’s Drug Offences Definitive guideline came into force in February 2012. It includes guidelines for sentencing offences of importation/exportation, supply, possession with intent to supply, production, permitting premises to be used, and... More

    Closed 7 May 2020

  • Proposed rule changes relating to contempt of court: redraft of CPR Part 81

    The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) is considering whether amendments should be made to Civil Procedure Rules Part 81 concerning the practices and procedures on contempt of court. Given the wide-ranging nature of the rules on contempt, this is a cross-jurisdictional,... More

    Closed 1 May 2020

  • Changes to the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines and associated explanatory materials

    What is this consultation about? The Sentencing Council has received suggestions from guideline users in magistrates’ courts on improvements that could usefully be made to guidelines and the explanatory materials that accompany them. The Council has considered these helpful... More

    Closed 15 April 2020

See All Closed Consultations