#2026/609Sentencing Act 2026 Commencement No. 4 Regulations
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This regulation brings selected release-related parts of the Sentencing Act 2026 into force in England and Wales from 2 September 2026. For people already serving prison or detention sentences before that date, some release provisions start on a phased timetable based on sentence length, running from 2 September 2026 to 8 June 2027. Courts, prison authorities, probation teams, and legal advisers will need to apply the correct start date for each affected sentence.
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Key Changes
- Starts selected release provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 on 2 September 2026
- Introduces phased start dates for some existing prisoners based on sentence length
- Brings related driving disqualification amendments into force alongside release changes
Obligations
What this law requires
Apply section 23(1), (2), (6), (8), (11)(b) and (c), and (12) to (15) of the Sentencing Act 2026 on release from 2 September 2026 in England and Wales.
Apply section 24(1)(a)(ii), (2), and (6) of the Sentencing Act 2026 on release-related consequential amendments to driving disqualification from 2 September 2026 in England and Wales.
For people already serving imprisonment or detention sentences imposed before 2 September 2026 and in custody or detention immediately before that date, apply the provisions in regulation 2(c) on the relevant phased commencement date according to the length of the relevant sentence.
For an affected pre-2 September 2026 prisoner or detainee whose relevant sentence is less than 575 days, apply the regulation 2(c) release provisions from 2 September 2026.
For an affected pre-2 September 2026 prisoner or detainee whose relevant sentence is greater than 574 days and less than 883 days, apply the regulation 2(c) release provisions from 13 October 2026.