UK introduces tougher sentencing powers to restrict criminals’ freedoms

The United Kingdom government has announced new sentencing measures that will bar criminals from pubs, concerts, and sports venues as part of its Plan for Change.

The reforms will give judges the power to impose restrictions such as travel bans, driving limits, and confinement to specific zones in a bid to cut crime and reduce reoffending.

According to the government, the new powers will not only apply to offenders in prison but also to those under community supervision by the Probation Service. An expanded drug testing regime will also be introduced, extending scrutiny to offenders without a history of substance misuse. Anyone who violates these conditions risks being sent back to court or returned to prison, depending on their sentence.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the reforms were designed to reinforce punishment and improve public safety.
“When criminals break society’s rules, they must be punished. Those serving their sentences in the community must have their freedom restricted there, too. These new punishments should remind all offenders that, under this Government, crime does not pay,” Mahmood stated.

Currently, judges can only impose limited bans in specific cases, such as football-related offences on match days. Under the new law, however, restrictions will be applicable to a wider range of crimes and circumstances.

The reforms form part of broader sentencing changes to ensure punishments are tougher, while dangerous offenders are accommodated in prisons. Since July 2024, over 2,400 new prison places have been created, with the government investing £7 billion to provide 14,000 more spaces.

In addition, the Probation Service will receive a funding boost of up to £700 million by 2028/29, raising its annual budget from £1.6 billion. The service has recorded a 7% increase in probation officers in the past year, alongside a 15% rise in trainee recruits. The government also plans to employ an additional 1,300 officers this year, building on the 1,000 recruited in 2024.

New technology, including artificial intelligence, will be deployed to reduce administrative workload, enabling probation staff to focus more on supervising high-risk offenders.