Reduced sentences for early guilty pleas may be discarded

The Law Society has called for a “consistent approach” in giving credit on sentencing for guilty pleas.

Society president Simon Davis spoke out following reports that reduced sentences to reflect offenders’ early guilty pleas could be abolished.

Recent reports suggested that the justice minister Robert Buckland considers that discounts in sentences of up to a third for early guilty pleas undermine public confidence in the justice system and are being exploited by offenders.

Davis said: “There should be a consistent approach in giving credit for a guilty plea irrespective of the strength of the evidence against the defendants.

“The advantages to victims and witnesses of not having to testify at trial and the public interest in saving time and money on investigations and trials are not diminished, even in a so-called ‘overwhelming evidence’ case.

“In the absence of credit for a guilty plea a defendant may conclude that they have nothing to lose by going to trial - leading to victims having to testify and costly investigations and trials.”