Crime (Sentences) Act 1997

Changes over time for: Section 31A

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, Section 31A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 August 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 31A:

s. 35(5)(c)s. 35(8)(a) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 139(b)
s. 8(5) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 143
s. 32ZAB(1)(fa) inserted by 2026 c. 20 Sch. 11 para. 8
s. 32ZZA(3A) inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 58(5)
s. 34A inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 69

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 35(5)(c)s. 35(8)(a) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 139(b)
s. 8(5) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 143
s. 32ZAB(1)(fa) inserted by 2026 c. 20 Sch. 11 para. 8
s. 32ZZA(3A) inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 58(5)
s. 34A inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 69

[F131AImprisonment or detention for public protection: termination of licencesE+W

(1)This section applies to a prisoner who—

(a)is serving one or more preventive sentences, and

(b)is not serving any other life sentence.

(2)Where—

(a)the prisoner has been released on licence under this Chapter [F2(whether or not the prisoner has subsequently been recalled to prison under section 32)]; and

(b)the qualifying period has expired,

the Secretary of State [F3must], if directed to do so by the Parole Board, order that the licence is to cease to have effect.

[F4(3)Where—

(a)the prisoner has been released on licence under this Chapter (whether or not the prisoner has subsequently been recalled to prison under section 32); [F5and]

(b)the qualifying period has expired; F6...

F6(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the Secretary of State must refer the prisoner’s case to the Parole Board under this subsection.]

[F7(3A)Where—

(a)the prisoner has been released on licence under this Chapter (whether or not the prisoner has subsequently been recalled to prison under section 32),

(b)the qualifying period has expired,

(c)the prisoner’s licence has remained in force for a continuous period of one year beginning not before the qualifying period expired, and

(d)the prisoner requests that the Secretary of State refer their case to the Parole Board,

the Secretary of State must refer the prisoner’s case to the Board under this subsection.

(3B)Only one request may be made under subsection (3A)(d) in any continuous period during which the prisoner’s licence remains in force.]

[F8(4)Where a reference is made under subsection (3) [F9or (3A)] above—

(a)the Parole Board must direct the Secretary of State to make an order that the licence is to cease to have effect, unless paragraph (b) applies;

(b)if the Parole Board is satisfied that it is necessary for the protection of the public that the licence should remain in force, it must dismiss the reference.]

F10(4A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(4B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(4C). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F11(4D)[F12A reference under subsection (3) or (3A) must not be made, and a reference under either of those subsections] must not be determined by the Parole Board under subsection (4), if at the time the reference or determination would otherwise be made the prisoner is in prison having been recalled under section 32.

(4E) Subsection (4F) applies where—

(a)but for subsection (4D), a reference of the prisoner’s case would have been made under subsection (3) [F13or (3A)] or determined by the Parole Board under subsection (4),

(b)the Secretary of State has referred the prisoner’s case to the Parole Board under section 28 or 32, and

(c)the Board is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.

(4F)Where this subsection applies—

(a)the Parole Board must direct the Secretary of State to release the prisoner unconditionally, unless paragraph (b) applies;

(b)if the Parole Board is satisfied that it is necessary for the protection of the public for the prisoner, when released, to be released on licence in respect of the preventive sentence or sentences, it must not give a direction under paragraph (a).

(4G)Where the Parole Board gives a direction under subsection (4F)(a)—

(a)section 28(5) has effect in relation to the prisoner as if for “release him on licence” there were substituted “release the prisoner unconditionally”;

(b)section 32(5) has effect in relation to the prisoner as if for “give effect to the direction” there were substituted “release the prisoner unconditionally”.

(4H)Where—

(a)the prisoner has been released on licence under this Chapter (whether or not the prisoner has subsequently been recalled to prison under section 32),

(b)the qualifying period has expired, and

(c)the prisoner’s licence has remained in force for a continuous period of two years—

(i)beginning not before the qualifying period expired, and

(ii)ending after the coming into force of section 66(3)(d) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024,

the Secretary of State must order that the licence is to cease to have effect.]

(5)In this section—

[F14“preventive sentence” means—
(a)
a sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution for public protection under section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (including one passed as a result of section 219 of the Armed Forces Act 2006), or
(b)
a sentence of detention for public protection under section 226 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (including one passed as a result of section 221 of the Armed Forces Act 2006);]
“the qualifying period”, in relation to a prisoner who has been released on licence [F15(whether or not the prisoner has subsequently been recalled to prison under section 32)], [F16means the period of two years beginning with the date of the prisoner’s release.]

[F17(6)The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument amend subsection (5) to change the length of the qualifying period for the time being specified in F18... the definition of “the qualifying period” [F19in relation to—

(a)a prisoner who was not at any time, in the period specified in the regulations beginning with the date of the prisoner’s release, serving any preventive sentence in respect of an offence for which the prisoner was convicted when aged 18 or over;

(b)any other prisoner.]

(7)A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (6) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.]]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 31A inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 18 para. 2; S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 40 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))