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New Sentencing Guidelines for Drugs Offences

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The 1st April 2021 will see updated and new sentencing guidelines for some drug offences come into force. These will apply to all cases sentenced on or after 1st April 2021.  

The updated and new guidelines are designed to take into consideration modern drug offending in an ever evolving world. 

Over recent years new and more powerful drugs have been introduced to the market, including various kinds of synthetic opioids and “Spice”. The new guidelines provide for such drugs offences which were created by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. In the assessment of harm caused by drugs offending the quantity of some drugs has been updated to reflect the change in purity and yield of the drugs.

These new guidelines also introduce several new aggravating factors that could increase sentences for offenders who exploit children, use the home of a vulnerable person, or run county lines in their offending.

Will I go to prison for being in possession or selling drugs?

It is too difficult to predict what will happen in relation to overall sentencing lengths once these guidelines come in to force, but the expectation is that these new and updated guidelines may result in longer custodial sentences for drugs offending.

As a firm, we at Johnson Astills will be carefully monitoring the impact of the guidelines on sentences passed and will not hesitate to advise on appeal.

How can we help?

At Johnson Astills our specialist advocates in the Criminal Defence Team  are highly experienced in dealing with all allegations, including drugs offending, at both the Magistrates’ and Crown Court.

If you find yourself facing any offence it is vital to contact a solicitor as soon as possible to obtain expert legal advice. Representation at the police station is free, and legal aid may be available for your case at the Magistrates’ and Crown Court. For offences which do not qualify for legal aid, we offer fixed fees for appointments and representation.

To discuss any drugs offences please contact our Criminal Defence Team at Johnson Astills at our Leicester Office on 0116 255 4855 or our Loughborough Office on 01509 610 312.

For more information on the members of our Criminal Defence Team at Johnson Astills please visit Our People page.