{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-384",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-384.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2020/17",
  "legislation_title": "Sentencing Act 2020",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020",
  "path": "section/384",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "384",
  "heading": "Commencement of sentence",
  "text": "(1) A sentence imposed by a court when dealing with an offender takes effect from the beginning of the day on which it is imposed, unless the court otherwise directs.\n(2) The power to give a direction under subsection (1) is subject to section 225 (restriction on consecutive sentences for released prisoners).\n(3) This section is subject to—\n(a) section 198 (when a youth rehabilitation order is in force);\n(b) sections 237, 253, 257 and 270 (interaction of detention and training order with other sentences);\n(c) section 334 (duration of criminal behaviour order);\n(d) section 385(5) (alteration of Crown Court sentence);\n(e) section 142(5) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (power of magistrates' court to re-open cases to rectify mistakes etc).\n(4) In this section—\n“sentence” has the meaning given by section 401, but—\n(a)also includes a recommendation for deportation made when dealing with an offender, and\n(b)does not include an order relating to a requirement to make a payment under regulations under section 23 or 24 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (legal aid: payment for services and enforcement);\n“imposed” includes made.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 384 in force at 1.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/section/384",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:00:57.370248+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}