Judges get new rules for sentencing blackmail, kidnap, and false imprisonment, starting April 1, 2025 in England and Wales.
One guideline covers blackmail. Blackmailers demand money or property and threaten victims. The guideline looks at emotional harm and considers what the loss means to the victim.
Another guideline covers kidnap, which involves force or threats. Someone takes a victim against their will. False imprisonment involves restraint; a person stops someone from leaving.
These crimes cause much harm, and victims suffer physically and emotionally. False imprisonment often happens in domestic abuse, and now courts can consider this.
Mrs. Justice Juliet May spoke about the rules, saying these crimes are very serious. They affect victims deeply, and the guidelines ensure fair sentencing going forward.
The new guidelines start April 1, 2025, and cover adults in England and Wales. Until then, courts will use past practices and general guidelines.