Sentencing Council open consultation
Sentencing Council open consultation into perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation

The Sentencing Council has published a consultation paper on draft guidelines for offences of perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation. They are seeking views to help inform the final guidelines.
They are seeking views on:
- principal factors that make any of the offences included within the draft guidelines more or less serious
- additional factors that should influence the sentence
- types and lengths of sentence that should be passed
- issues relating to disparity of sentencing and broader matters relating to equality and diversity that the guidelines should address
To take part and have your views heard, join in with the consultation by 22 June 2022.

We’re pleased with the news that children who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation are now to be considered in the new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, as announced by MP Jess Phillips. The new VAWG strategy was due to be published in the summer, but has now been pushed back towards the end of 2025. We will have to wait until the final strategy is released to see the impact it will have for those concerned. RASASC was part of a large contingent of signatories on an open letter to the Home Secretary, requesting that victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation be included within the VAWG strategy. We are delighted that this action has had a positive impact. Following several delays and a degree of mystery surrounding what will be in the final version, we sincerely hope that the completed VAWG strategy has heeded the advice and recommendations from experts, to deliver an effective and fully resourced plan of action.









