This petition was submitted during the 2017–2019 Conservative government

Petition Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme to cover coercive control-Serious Crime Act 2015

The Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme allows anyone to complain to the Attorney General that a sentence is too low. But it does not include serious domestic abuse, e.g. coercive control, for which there are frequent poor sentences which often seem to disregard Sentencing Council guidelines.

More details

The scheme has not kept up with the devastating effects of coercive control. Vera Baird QC commented: “The Sentencing Council makes clear that the huge breach of trust involved”, in this offence, “itself merits harsher punishment." https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/police-chief-welcomes-new-sentence-rules-for-domestic-violence-1-8826066

Referring sentencing for this offence to the Court of Appeal would ensure senior judges reiterated the crime’s gravity and followed sentencing guidelines

This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website

950 signatures

Show on a map

10,000