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Arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence

s.14 Sexual Offences Act 2003 · Triable either way

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Sentencing framework

The guideline for sentencing this offence emphasizes the importance of determining the level of harm based on the intended sexual activity. It outlines that no actual sexual activity needs to take place for a conviction, and adjustments to the sentence may be made based on the offender's actions and the presence of aggravating or mitigating factors.

Maximum sentence

14 years’ custody

Court

Triable either way

Aggravating factors

  • ·Significant commercial exploitation
  • ·International element

Mitigating factors

  • ·Vulnerable offender
  • ·Limited role due to coercion or exploitation

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — determining the offence category
  2. Step 2 — assessing the level of harm
  3. Step 3 — considering culpability levels
  4. Step 4 — identifying starting point
  5. Step 5 — adjusting for aggravating and mitigating features
  6. Step 6 — determining the final sentence

Guideline notes

  • No offence-specific guideline exists; therefore, refer to the General guideline for overarching principles.

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.