New sentencing guideline published for strangulation and suffocation offences
On the 17/12/24, the independent Sentencing Council published a new sentencing guideline to assist judges and magistrates concerning both non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation offences committed in England and Wales.
Previously, only a draft sentencing guideline, published on the 15/05/24, existed.
The said offences, created by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, are often committed in a domestic context and came into force on 07/06/22.
The new guideline applies to both the basic offence and also the racially or religiously aggravated version.
Courts in England and Wales will be expected to apply the new guideline when it comes into force on the 01/01/25.
The new guidelines will apply to all adult offenders sentenced on or after that date.
If you are under investigation or facing criminal proceedings concerning non-fatal strangulation and/or non-fatal suffocation, you can speak with one of our lawyers in confidence.
We have four offices and are available 24hours a day, 365 days of the year.
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For further details:
New Sentencing Council sentencing guideline for strangulation and suffocation offences – Sentencing