Written questions

Sentencing: Appeals

Commons · Question 85971 · Tabled 28 Oct 2025 · Ministry of Justice · Official record

Answered 5 Nov 2025

Question

Asked by Andrew Snowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the period of time within which a victims' family can appeal a sentence.

Answer

Answered by Jake Richards, 5 Nov 2025

Through the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, a victims’ family (and members of the public) can request that the Attorney General refers a sentence to the Court of Appeal for review. Parliament intended the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to be an exceptiona...