Sentencing Dangerous Offenders
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance addresses the prosecution's approach to sentencing dangerous offenders under the provisions established by the Sentencing Act 2020. It outlines the criteria used to assess dangerousness, the legal framework for imposing extended or life sentences, and the roles and responsibilities of prosecutors in ensuring that courts are properly informed regarding the offender's history and the nature of the crimes committed. The document also discusses factors affecting the assessment of dangerousness and sentencing options available to offenders deemed dangerous.
Key points
- The court can impose extended or life sentences on dangerous offenders as defined by the Sentencing Act 2020.
- A specified offence must be present for dangerous offender provisions to apply.
- Judicial assessments of dangerousness consider the seriousness of the current and past offences.
- Sentences may be concurrent or consecutive within the dangerous offender framework.
- The prosecutor plays a crucial role in presenting information about the offender's criminal history.
Public-interest factors
- The need to protect the public from serious harm.
- The seriousness of the offender's previous conduct.
- The risk of the defendant committing further specified offences.
- The potential impact on victims and society.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.