Criminal law

A Westminster Hall debate on protections for emergency services is scheduled for Wednesday 4 November 2020 at 4.30pm. The Member leading the debate is Matt Vickers MP.

A Westminster Hall debate on the spending of the Ministry of Justice on legal aid is scheduled for Thursday 22 October at 3pm. The Member leading the debate is Sir Robert Neill MP.

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill 2019-2021 was introduced in the House of Commons on 24 September 2020. It is due to have Second Reading on 5 October. It would introduce a power in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to authorise conduct by officials and agents of the security and intelligence services, law enforcement, and certain other public authorities, which would otherwise constitute criminality.

This Insight looks at how different ethnic groups compared statistically in areas such as convictions, sentencing lengths, types of offence, pleas and at the bench in 2019 across England and Wales.

The Government presented the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill on 18 March 2020, thereby meeting its 100-day self imposed deadline. Second Reading has been scheduled for 23 September 2020. Aspects of the Bill are already generating controversy.

The Sentencing Bill [HL] 2019-21 would introduce a sentencing code. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 9 September 2020 and is due to have its second reading and all remaining stages on 30 September 2020.

Stronger legislation providing for sanctions against corrupt officials who commit gross human rights abuse has been passed, and the UK's first Magnitsky sanctions have been announced...

The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 2019-21 has completed its Committee stage and is due to have its Report stage and Third Reading on Tuesday 21 July 2020.

The Domestic Abuse Bill 2019-21 has completed its Committee stage and is due to have its Report stage and Third Reading on Monday 6 July 2020.

The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill was introduced on 20 May 2020. Second Reading in the House of Commons is due to take place on 9 June 2020.

The tables in this paper provide a summary of the UK and EU positions in the future relationship negotiations, based on their proposed draft treaty texts and other publicly available statements

This paper provides an overview of the constitutional status and functions of the law officers of the United Kingdom. This includes the law officers of the UK Government and those that advise the three devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This paper provides an update on the first three rounds of negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship and analysis of the draft new partnership treaty tabled by the EU in March 2020