Petition · past parliament
Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme to cover coercive control-Serious Crime Act 2015
Closed
950 signatures
What the petition asks
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.
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
Referring sentencing for this offence to the Court of Appeal would ensure senior judges reiterated the crime’s gravity and followed sentencing guidelines
Timeline
| 8 Jul 2019 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 6 Nov 2019 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
950
Status
Closed
Opened
8 Jul 2019
Closed
6 Nov 2019
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.