Child Cruelty Sentencing Guidelines Consultation

What is this consultation about? The Sentencing Council proposes to amend its existing sentencing guidelines for child cruelty offences, to reflect recent changes to the statutory maximum penalties. These offences are: Causing or allowing a child to die or suffer serious physical harm (contrary to section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004); and Cruelty to a child (contrary to section 1(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933). [1] Background The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has raised the maximum penalties for these offences. The maximum penalty for cruelty to a child under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 has been raised from 10 to 14 years’ custody. The maximum penalty for causing or allowing a child to suffer serious harm under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 was also raised from 10 to 14