Section 229: Power of magistrates' court to imprison for less than specified term

Sentencing Act 2020 · 2020 c. 17View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 10: Custodial sentences — CHAPTER 1: Custody: general provisions

Where a magistrates' court has power to sentence an offender to imprisonment for a period specified by an enactment (whether passed or made before or after this Act), the court may sentence the offender to imprisonment for less than that period.

This is subject to—

section 132 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (5 day minimum term);
express provision to the contrary in an Act passed after 31 December 1879.

In this section “enactment” includes an enactment contained in a local Act or in any order, regulation or other instrument having effect by virtue of an Act.

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Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.