S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2020 No. 158  CRIMINAL LAW, ENGLAND AND WALES  The Release of Prisoners (Alteration of Relevant Proportion of  Sentence) Order 2020  The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 267, 330(3) and 330(4) of  the Criminal Justice Act 2003( a ), makes the following Order. In accordance with section 330(5) of  that Act, a draft of the instrument was laid before Parliament, and approved by a resolution of each  House of Parliament.  1.  This Order may be cited as the Release of Prisoners (Alteration of Relevant Proportion of  Sentence) Order 2020 and shall come into force on 1st April 2020.  2. —(1) In this Order—  “the 2003 Act” means the Criminal Justice Act 2003,  “relevant violent or sexual offence” means an offence listed in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 15 to  the 2003 Act for which a sentence of life imprisonment may be imposed.  (2) In this Order, a reference to a term of imprisonment is to be read as including a reference to a  sentence falling within section 237(1)(b) of the 2003 Act.  3.  In section 244 of the 2003 Act (duty to release prisoners), the reference to one-half in  subsection (3)(a) is to be read, in relation to a prisoner sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 7  years or more for a relevant violent or sexual offence, as a reference to two-thirds.  4.  In section 264 of the 2003 Act (consecutive terms), the reference to one-half in subsection  (6)(d) is to be read, in relation to a sentence to a term of imprisonment of 7 years or more for a  relevant violent or sexual offence, as a reference to two-thirds.  Reference in section 264 of the 2003 Act  Reference in section 244 of the 2003 Act  Citation and commencement  Interpretation  ( a ) 2003 c.44. Section 267 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 was amended by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of  Offenders Act 2012 s 111(2), Sch 14, paras 5, 6(1), (3)(a), s 89(2), Sch 10, paras 12, 21(1), (3)(a), (3)(b), the Offender  Rehabilitation Act 2014 s 7(1), Sch 3, paras 14, 18, the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, s 31, Sch 6, paras  1, 2(b) and S.I. 2020/157.  Made - - - - 6th February 2020  Coming into force - - 1st April 2020 