Pub and travel bans proposed under sentencing rule changes

People found guilty of offences in England and Wales may be refused admission to pubs, concerts, and sports matches under new government sentencing laws. The changes will force courts enforcing non-custodial sentences to have the ability to out driving and travel restrictions as well as ordering offenders to remain in specific areas. Criminals must be their liberty limited in society if they are serving community sentences, according to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, but some have expressed reservations about how the new laws would be enforced. As a way of dealing with overcrowded prisons, Arecent's review recommended that there be less custodial sentences for less serious offences.

Courts are now able to place limited bans on people found guilty of certain offences, such as someone found guilty if violent at football matches. However, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it intends to pass legislation that would require more restrictions to be levied by judges and magistrates

as a form of punishment for any offence under any circumstance. It means that offenders could face additional fines due to their specific offence, as well as those who violate the rules could face further sanctions. Even if they do not have a history of abuse, prisoners released from jail who are supervised by the Probation Service could face similar restrictions under the new guidelines, as well as more stringent drug testing, even though they have no history of misusing drugs. However, some in the hospitality industry have expressed skepticism about how to enforce more comprehensive bans on the likes of pubs and gigs. Ministers should work with the industry to ensure that the scheme

does not unfairly burden venues that are still struggling to thrive,

Michael Kill, founder of the Night Time Industries Association, said.

While we fully understand the purpose behind these steps, they cannot simply be implemented on a whim,

he said, adding that there must be adequate funding, planning, and coordination between the sector and government must exist. Wendy Joseph KC, a former Bailey Criminal Judge, told BBC Breakfast,

a number of really positive resultscould have resulted from the scheme, butit's not going to work unless it's properly fundedand considered through.The suggestion that you can keep people out of pubs could be putting a lot of weight on people who run bars,she said.You've got to find a way of catching the people who break the rules and punishing them,

she said. The MoJ said the plans were part of broader sentencing reforms aimed at deterring crime and ensuring that prisons never ran out of jails for violent offenders. The changes, according to the department, would

toughen up community punishments. Thousands of prisoners were released early, shortly after coming to office in 2024, saying that they had inherit a prison system from the previous Conservative government that was on the verge of running out of beds.

Mahmood said that expanding the number of sentencing options short of prison time was part of Labour's effort to reduce crime and make streets safer.

When criminals breach society's laws, they must be punished,

she said.

Those who are serving their sentences in the community must have their freedom restricted there.

The new order comes as a result of the MoJ's releasing more details about its planto place tighter limits on serious sexual and violent criminals after being released from jail, requiring them to remain in a specific area. According to the government, restricting offenders to a geographical area, enforced with tougher tracking and enhanced tagging, would bring victims greater peace of mind. Following a third of their term, some prisoners in England and Wales will now be eligible for release, according to reformed. However, this - as well as the early ones - have been chastised for adding to the pressures on the probation service and police forces. According to the MoJ, new technology would ease the administrative burden on probation officers and improve monitoring of the most dangerous offenders. According to the service, at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers will be hired into the service this year, and that the service will receive a £700 million funding increase by 2028.