# Sentencing Act 2020, Section 384: Commencement of sentence


(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.
(2) The power to give a direction under subsection (1) is subject to section 225 (restriction on consecutive sentences for released prisoners).
(3) This section is subject to—
(a) section 198 (when a youth rehabilitation order is in force);
(b) sections 237, 253, 257 and 270 (interaction of detention and training order with other sentences);
(c) section 334 (duration of criminal behaviour order);
(d) section 385(5) (alteration of Crown Court sentence);
(e) section 142(5) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (power of magistrates' court to re-open cases to rectify mistakes etc).
(4) In this section—
“sentence” has the meaning given by section 401, but—
(a)also includes a recommendation for deportation made when dealing with an offender, and
(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);
“imposed” includes made.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/section/384 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-384
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.