Part I

Sentencing

Automatic sentences

Minimum sentence for third conviction of certain offences relating to drug trafficking
2
1
After section 205 of the 1995 Act there shall be inserted the following section—

Minimum sentence for third conviction of certain offences relating to drug trafficking
205B
1
This section applies where—
a
a person is convicted on indictment in the High Court of a class A drug trafficking offence committed after the commencement of section 2 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997;
b
at the time when that offence was committed, he had attained the age of at least 18 years and had been convicted in any part of the United Kingdom of two other class A drug trafficking offences, irrespective of—
i
whether either of those offences was committed before or after the commencement of section 2 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997;
ii
the court in which any such conviction was obtained; and
iii
his age at the time of the commission of either of those offences; and
c
one of the offences mentioned in paragraph (b) above was committed after he had been convicted of the other.
2
Subject to subsection (3) below, where this section applies the court shall sentence the person—
a
where he has attained the age of 21 years, to a term of imprisonment of at least seven years; and
b
where he has attained the age of 18 years but is under the age of 21 years, to detention in a young offenders institution for a period of at least seven years.
3
The court shall not impose the sentence otherwise required by subsection (2) above where it is of the opinion that there are specific circumstances which—
a
relate to any of the offences or to the offender; and
b
would make that sentence unjust.
4
For the purposes of section 106(2) of this Act a sentence passed under subsection (2) above in respect of a conviction for a class A drug trafficking offence shall not be regarded as a sentence fixed by law for that offence.
5
In this section “class A drug trafficking offence” means a drug trafficking offence committed in respect of a class A drug; and for this purpose—
- “class A drug” has the same meaning as in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971;
- “drug trafficking offence” means a drug trafficking offence within the meaning of—
  1. the Drug Trafficking Act 1994;
  2. the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995; or
  3. the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
.
2
In section 196 of the 1995 Act (sentence following guilty plea)—
a
the existing words shall become subsection (1); and
b
at the end there shall be added the following subsection—
2
Where the court is passing sentence on an offender under section 205B(2) of this Act and that offender has pled guilty to the offence for which he is being so sentenced, the court may, after taking into account the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) above, pass a sentence of less than seven years imprisonment or, as the case may be, detention but any such sentence shall not be of a term of imprisonment or period of detention of less than five years, two hundred and nineteen days.
.
1971 c. 38.
1994 c. 37.
1995 c. 43
S.I. 1996/1299 (N.I. 9).