The Sentencing Guidelines applying to health and safety, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences were published at midnight, 2 November and will come into force in courts on 1 February 2016, not 1 November 2015 as previously anticipated. They will apply to any case sentenced on or after 1 February 2016, regardless of the date of the offence.

The courts in England and Wales will, for the first time, have comprehensive sentencing guidelines covering the most commonly sentenced health and safety, corporate manslaughter, and food safety and hygiene offences.

The sentencing principles, starting points and fine ranges in the final version of the Sentencing Guidelines remain as per the draft guidelines and as detailed in our earlier alert "Is your house in order on health and safety?" with the exception of the coming into force date.