Sentencing Bill introduced into Parliament

The government has introduced the Sentencing Bill to Parliament, unveiling a series of criminal justice reforms that could have significant implications for local licensing enforcement, particularly in relation to pub bans and alcohol-related offences.

Announced on 3 September, the Sentencing Bill aims to place the prison system on a more sustainable footing by expanding the use of electronic monitoring and strengthening post-release supervision. Under the proposed legislation, all individuals leaving prison will be subject to electronic tagging unless specifically exempted by probation staff. This marks a shift toward more intensive community oversight, with the Probation Service tasked with closely monitoring offender behaviour.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the new tagging regime will apply broadly, including to those convicted of public order offences, many of which are linked to alcohol consumption and incidents in or around licensed premises. This development is expected to support local authorities in enforcing pub bans and other licensing restrictions, particularly where repeat offenders are involved.

Local councils already have powers to impose pub bans through licensing reviews and public space protection orders. The expanded use of electronic monitoring could enhance these efforts by providing real-time data on offender movements and enabling more targeted enforcement in areas with high levels of alcohol-related crime.

The Sentencing Bill complements wider government efforts to improve public safety through licensing reform. Recent consultations have explored measures such as restricting the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children and tightening controls on late-night venues. Together, these initiatives reflect a growing emphasis on preventative regulation and community-level intervention.