NEW sentencing powers could be imposed on assault cases to take into account injuries to the victim and culpability of the offender.

The public have been given 12 weeks to put forward their views during a consultation exercise launched yesterday by the Sentencing Council.

Lord Justice Leveson, the chairman of the Sentencing Council, said: “Our revisions set out a proposed guideline that means any offence of assault can be met with a proportionate sentence based on a consistent framework.

“This will make it easily applied by judges and readily understood both by victims and the public. We have tried to present the guidelines in a way that everyone can understand.

“During the consultation period we would like to hear from victims and any member of the public, as well as from judges, lawyers and others in the criminal justice system.”

The council said there had been concerns with the existing guidelines which are based on the description of the offence.

Judges said many assaults are spontaneous and as a result of drunken violence in the street.

The Northern Echo launched its Price of a Punch campaign at the start of the month following the court case of soldier Andrew Gibson.

He was killed by one punch during a night out. His killer, 17-year-old John Flannigan, was imprisoned for two-and-a half years after admitting manslaughter.

The consultation runs until January 5.

For more details, go to sentencingcouncil.org.uk