Research Briefing
This Briefing Paper has been prepared for the second reading debate of the Criminal Finances Bill on 25 October 2016. The Bill aims to improve the Government's ability to target the revenue generated by organised crime.
Debate Pack
A debate on reforming the law on homicide in England and Wales will be held in Westminster Hall on 30 June 2016 at 1330hrs. The member in charge of the debate is Alex Chalk.
Debate Pack
The Report of the Macur Review was laid before Parliament on 17 March 2016. It is an independent review of the Tribunal of Inquiry, chaired by Sir Ronald Waterhouse, into the abuse of children in care in North Wales since 1974. A Westminster Hall debate on the Macur Review has been scheduled for Tuesday 22 March 2016 at 1630. Liz Saville Roberts will be leading the debate.
Research Briefing
The Policing and Crime Bill 2015-16 has its second reading on 7 March 2016. It includes provisions covering collaboration between police and fire services; reforms to the police complaints and discipline systems; new safeguards for pre-charge bail; powers for police staff and volunteers; and changes to firearms law. This briefing analyses the Bill and the policy background, and provides some relevant comment.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper is produced prior to the Report Stage of the Psychoactive Substances Bill 2015-16.
Debate Pack
Backbench Business Debate on Protecting 16 and 17 year olds from Child Sexual Exploitation Thursday 17 December 2015
Debate Pack
A Westminster Hall debate on access to justice in Wales has been scheduled for Tuesday 15 December 2015 at 1630hrs. The member in charge of the debate is Carolyn Harris.
Research Briefing
This note sets out the current law in England and Wales on the retention of fingerprints and DNA data by the police under the regime introduced by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. It also outlines the background to the changes made by the Act.
Research Briefing
Murder carries a mandatory life sentence. This can mean that the offender will spend the rest of his natural life in prison, although more commonly the offender will spend a "minimum term" in custody before being released on licence. This briefing from the Commons Library describes the legal framework within which minimum terms are set and the circumstances in which a "whole life" minimum term may be imposed.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper is prepared for the Second Reading of the Psychoactive Substances Bill on 19 October 2015.
Research Briefing
This note describes the statutory scheme under which victims of miscarriages of justice can apply to the Government for compensation.
Research Briefing
The Serious Crime Bill [HL] 2013-14 had its second reading in the Commons on 5 January 2015. Library Research Paper 14/67 Serious Crime Bill provides background on the proposals in the Bill.
Research Briefing
This Bill would make changes aimed to strengthen the law on the recovery of the proceeds of crime. It would make amendments to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to update existing offences. It would also provide for a new offence of participating in the activities of an organised crime group and make changes to Serious Crime Prevention Orders and gang injunctions. The Bill would provide for the seizure and forfeiture of substances used as drug-cutting agents. It would also amend the offence of child cruelty, create a new offence relating to the possession of ‘paedophile manuals’ and amend the law on Female Genital Mutilation. The Bill would create a new offence of unauthorised possession of a knife or other offensive weapon in prison and confer extra-territorial jurisdiction on the courts in respect of certain terrorism offences.
Research Briefing
The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill 2013-14 had its second reading on 24 February 2014 and was carried over to 2014-15 session. Library Research Paper 14/8 The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill provides background on the proposals in the Bill. There are four parts covering criminal justice, including offences relating to extreme pornographic images and release and recall of prisoners, young offenders, secure colleges and youth cautions, changes to courts and tribunals, including strict liability and jury misconduct, and judicial review changes, which attracted much written and oral evidence.
Research Briefing
The current criminal offence of child neglect is set out in section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The charity Action for Children has launched a campaign calling for reform of the law, arguing that the legislation needs to "catch up" with modern society's understanding of neglect. Initially the Government said it had no plans to change the law in this area as the courts and children's services already interpret the 1933 Act "in a contemporary way". However, it now plans to legislate (via the Serious Crime Bill announced in the 2014 Queen's Speech) to make clear that the offence covers serious emotional neglect and psychological harm.
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