Some 1,300 pages of complicated and overlapping law currently occupy the statute book on sentencing – often making it difficult for judges to apply the law consistently and causing unnecessary delays to the justice process.

The Sentencing Code will ensure there is greater clarity in sentencing law, reducing the number of errors made, whilst improving the efficiency of sentencing hearings.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland said:

It is vital that judges have complete clarity when sentencing, and the public has total confidence the law will be applied correctly.

By enacting the Sentencing Code we will simplify the statute book, reduce errors, and ensure better understanding of the sentencing process.

The Code will bring the sentencing procedural law that courts rely on into one place, with a clear and logical structure, making it more accessible for the public, judiciary and practitioners.

It follows a pre-consolidation Bill, introduced in January which makes technical amendments to existing legislation to pave the way for the Code.

This includes a ‘clean sweep’ of sentencing procedural law, to allow for all offenders convicted after the Sentencing Code comes into force to be sentenced according to the most up to date law, irrespective of when they committed the offence.

The Code does not introduce any new substantive laws or alter the maximum or minimum penalties available for an offence.

In 2014, the Government agreed that the Law Commission should undertake the ‘Sentencing Code’ project to consolidate sentencing procedural law. The project has been subject to four formal public consultations – receiving backing by judges, lawyers and academics.

Notes to editors

• In 2014, the government agreed that the Law Commission should undertake a project to consolidate sentencing procedural law.
• The Sentencing Code will present the law in one place, in a more logical order, and in simpler terms. These improvements will assist legal professionals in applying the law, thereby reducing the risk of error, appeals and delay in the sentencing process.
• The Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Bill, an essential paving measure for the Code, was introduced in the House of Commons on Wednesday 4 March following its passage through the House of Lords.

Communities across the country will share £500,000 to host events marking the second national Windrush Day, Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP confirmed today (5 March 2020).

The nation will pay tribute to the outstanding and ongoing contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants on 22 June 2020.

Building on the success of the inaugural national Windrush Day last year, 49 projects across the country will receive funding to mark Windrush Day 2020 and commemorate the seminal moment nearly 72 years ago when the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks.

Those hosting events will work to celebrate, commemorate and educate communities on the leading role the Windrush Generation and their descendants have played in making Britain stronger, culturally richer and more inclusive.

Funded projects will hold a rich and wide-ranging series of events, including:

• a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Highfield Rangers, a youth football team founded by teenage Windrush arrivals in Leicester
• an exhibition with portrait photographs and oral histories from the Windrush generation to be shared with Birmingham schools
• a theatre production to tour community venues and schools in Bristol together with educational materials and local radio programming
• a 16-week intergenerational project to celebrate Windrush stories through drama and use of personal artefacts
• a national touring exhibition and accompanying publication celebrating children’s charity Barnardo’s black history

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

Windrush Day provides a great opportunity for all of us to come together and remember that we are a better country for the central role British Caribbean communities have played in post-war Britain.

British Caribbean communities have made Britain a better, more prosperous country in so many ways. From the communities they have built to the public services they have supported and led, and the arts and culture they have enriched, they have made an incredible contribution to their country.

It is right we reflect on this hugely positive impact on our society and I’d encourage everyone to come together to share and commemorate on June 22 and in the days and weeks beyond.

Wallen Matthie, Windrush Day Advisory Panel member said:

Windrush Day serves to commemorate the powerful legacy of the Windrush Generation and their descendants who have changed Britain for the better.

It was moving to join events last year as the nation came together to mark this vital part of our shared heritage and history.

Now the aim is to further embed Windrush Day in the national consciousness and ensure we continue to honour the Windrush Generation and their descendants for years to come.

Today, new guidance supporting community groups and civil society organisations to host their own events has also been launched. The marketing and events toolkit will ensure Windrush Day is marked as widely as possible in communities around the country.

Windrush Day

In June 2018, the government announced an annual Windrush Day to encourage communities across the country to commemorate the Windrush story on Windrush Day and throughout the year.

The national celebration is backed by a £500,000 Windrush Day Grant Scheme overseen by a Windrush Day Advisory Panel of community representatives.

Launched in October 2019, the Windrush Day Grant Scheme received over 200 bids for funding from community groups, charities and local authorities across England.

This year’s successful bids came from across the country from Bristol to Birmingham and Leicester to Leeds indicating the breadth of enthusiasm in communities across the country to mark Windrush Day 2020.

The Windrush Generation

Windrush Day marks the anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush at the Port of Tilbury, near London, on 22 June 1948. The arrival of the Empire Windrush nearly 72 years ago marked a seminal moment in Britain’s history and has come to represent the rich diversity of this nation.

Those who arrived on the Empire Windrush, their descendants and those who followed them have made and continue to make an enormous contribution to Britain, not just in the vital work of rebuilding the country and public services following World War 2 but in enriching our shared social, economic, cultural and religious life.

Overcoming great sacrifice and hardship, the Windrush Generation and their descendants have gone on to lead the field across public life, in business, the arts and sport. Britain would be much diminished without their contribution.

Further information

The MV Empire Windrush docked at the Port of Tilbury on 21 June 1948. However, passengers disembarked a day later on 22 June 1948 – hence why this has come to be known as Windrush Day.

The Windrush Day Grant scheme was launched on 22 November 2018.

See more information about the community groups and local authorities that are set to receive funding:

Windrush Day 2020 marketing and events toolkit

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is a devolved department. As such, the Windrush Day Grant Scheme is an England only policy area.

The Windrush Day Advisory Panel

Following the success of the Windrush 70 events, the Advisory Panel have been considering how best to celebrate Windrush Day each year. Made up of community representatives from locations around the country, the Panel provides advice directly to government. Its key focus is ensuring that successful bids are appropriate and resonate with Caribbean communities.

The Prime Minister hosted the Council for Science and Technology at Downing Street this afternoon.

Investing in science and talent is a key priority for the Prime Minister. The Council advises the Prime Minister on science and technology policy issues across government and is chaired by Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Manchester University. Science Minister Amanda Solloway also joined the meeting, along with other members of the Council.

At the meeting today, the Prime Minister set out his priorities for science, research and innovation. He championed science as a key part of his levelling up agenda, and the role of scientists in tackling the policy challenges of the coming decades. The Prime Minister asked the Council to define their “moon-shots” for UK science, their ideas for where the UK should aim high, for example across healthcare, transport, energy and robotics.

He re-affirmed the government’s pledge to invest in science and significantly boost R&D funding that will help unite and level up the country, calling on the Council to look at what science can do to drive this agenda.

The Prime Minister has already taken significant steps to ensure the UK is more open to global scientific ideas and talent than ever before. For example, the new fast-track Global Talent visa for international scientists, researchers and mathematicians is now open for applications, and the government has launched a major review into cutting down research bureaucracy like application form-filling. The Council also spoke about plans to develop the necessary infrastructure to boost research and development, such as the new UK Advanced Research Projects Agency for high-risk, high-pay-off research. This will ultimately tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges, including climate change and delivering net zero emissions by 2050.

The Council agreed to develop its thinking on answering and addressing the priorities outlined by the Prime Minister and the government.

Today the Prime Minister spoke to French President Macron.

They discussed the coronavirus epidemic and the Prime Minister updated the President on the UK’s four strand approach to contain the virus, delay its spread, research its origins and cure and mitigate the impact should the virus become more widespread.

The two leaders agreed to work together on an international response to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The Prime Minister and President Macron also discussed the current situation in Syria and what could be done to bring an end to the conflict and suffering of the Syrian people, particularly in Idlib.

The move will be included in emergency legislation to deal with coronavirus.

Updating Parliament on the Government’s response, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs:

I can today announce that the Health Secretary will bring forward, as part of our emergency legislation measures, to allow the payment of Statutory Sick Pay from the very first day you are sick instead of four days under the current rules.

No one should be penalised for doing the right thing.

Explaining the rationale for the measure, the Prime Minister had earlier said:

We are not at the point yet where we are asking large numbers of people to self-isolate, but that may of course come if large numbers have the symptoms.

If they stay at home, they are helping to protect all of us by preventing the spread of the virus.

The change will be a temporary measure to respond to the outbreak and will lapse when it is no longer required.

Statutory Sick Pay is paid by employers, who will know the reason their staff are giving for not being at work and already have some discretion to accept different forms of evidence as proof of sickness.

There is a range of support in place for those who do not receive Statutory Sick Pay, including Universal Credit and contributory Employment and Support Allowance. The move will be included in emergency legislation to deal with coronavirus.

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