Average custodial sentence length for adults sentenced for aggravated burglary.
Source: Ministry of Justice (2021) Criminal Justice System Statistics publication: Outcomes by Offence 2010 to 2020: Pivot Table Analytical Tool for England and Wales
Offence Definition: A person is guilty of aggravated burglary if they commit a burglary and at the time of committing the burglary they have a firearm, imitation firearm, weapon of offence or an explosive with them.
Sentencing Guidelines Range: The sentencing range for this offence is between 1 – 13 years’ custody, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Graph Explained: This bar graph shows the average length of sentence given to adults convicted of aggravated burglary during the 10 year period 2010-2020. It was in 2018 that the longest recorded average sentence was given to offenders, being 8 years and 1 month. In contrast, 2010 saw the shortest average sentence length for offenders, being 4 years and 9 months.
The general trend is that the average length of sentence for aggravated burglary has increased between 2010 and 2020 from just under 5 years to closer to 7 years and 5 months. The Sentencing Council published a definitive guideline for burglary offences in 2012 which came into force in 2012. The Sentencing Council have stated that the guidelines were not expected to lead to change in sentencing severity.
However, in comparing 2011 to 2012 there is an increase in average sentence length of 1 year and 3 months. This increase has been attributed to the Definitive Guideline introduced in 2012.
Despite the increase, the Sentencing Council has concluded that sentencing practices are proportionate to the seriousness of the offending.
A new definitive guideline came into force in 2022. Further data will be required to determine the effect, if any, that the updated guideline has on the average sentence length for offenders convicted of aggravated burglary.
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