Attackers who post “happy slapping” videos on the internet will face tougher sentences under guidelines for judges that take effect next month.

But parents who unintentionally inflict “minor injury” on their children in the course of “lawful chastisement” will not face custody.

The Sentencing Guidelines Council, chaired by the Lord Chief Justice, advises courts on how to deal with violent attackers. The guidance takes effect on March 3.

Courts will also take a particularly severe view of attacks on public-sector workers or people who provide a service to the public, especially if working at night. Offenders who inflict injury in an attempted “honour killing” or try to force an arranged marriage will also be dealt with more severely.

In cases of people carrying guns, knives or other weapons, then using them to inflict grave injuries, jail terms of between 10 and 16 years should be imposed. Other factors that will increase a sentence are offenders operating in gangs or groups, the deliberate targeting of vulnerable victims or the choosing of isolated places for an attack.

A “spontaneous” assault on a PC that caused no injury could be dealt with by a fine or medium-length community order.

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