Petition · past parliament
To increase the minimum sentence for online grooming to ‘two years in prison’.
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
Change the sentencing guidelines for, ‘sexual communication with a child’ from a community order to a minimum of two years in prison.
The rates of reoffending of defendants that receive non-custodial sentences for this crime warrants it.
To act as an effective deterrent to any individual considering committing this crime.
To act as an effective deterrent to any individual considering committing this crime.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
We can only accept petitions about things the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.
Sentencing guidelines are produced by the Sentencing Council, which is independent of the UK Government and Parliament.
We could accept a petition calling on the Government to amend the legislation governing the offence of sexual communication with a child, so that the minimum sentence that can be given for this offence is a two year custodial sentence.
Sentencing guidelines are produced by the Sentencing Council, which is independent of the UK Government and Parliament.
We could accept a petition calling on the Government to amend the legislation governing the offence of sexual communication with a child, so that the minimum sentence that can be given for this offence is a two year custodial sentence.
Timeline
| 21 Feb 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
3 Mar 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.