The Council has published its assessment of the impact that its allocation guideline has had since its introduction in March 2016.

The aim of the guideline was to increase the proportion of “either way” cases – those that can be heard in the magistrates’ courts or Crown Court being kept in the former, but it was not intended to change sentence levels. The assessment suggests that the guideline has had the intended effect, with more cases being retained for trial in the magistrates’ courts, but without a change in the overall severity of sentencing. The report can be accessed here