Crimes of violence

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on crimes of violence. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
28.02.2013Crime: Social Indicators page
Crime: Social Indicators page. By Gavin Berman and Roderick McInnes. SN/SG/2617.
14.02.2013Domestic violence
Domestic violence accounted for 15% of all violent incidents in 2011/12. Nearly one third of women and nearly one fifth of men say they have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16. This standard note looks at the Goverment's policy on this area.
28.01.2013Legal aid for victims of domestic violence
The issue of legal aid for private family law cases involving domestic violence remained controversial as the Government published its white paper in response to the public consultation and as the subsequent Bill (now the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012) made its way through Parliament. The Act is expected to come into force in April 2013. Provisions in the Act allow for legal aid to be provided in private law children and family proceedings where there is evidence of domestic abuse. The range of evidence of domestic abuse to be accepted - although much discussed during the Bill's passage - does not form part of the Act but has since been published in regulations.
10.01.2013Householders and the criminal law of self defence
This note considers the potential criminal liability of householders who use force against intruders. Such householders will have a complete defence if they can demonstrate they were using reasonable force in self defence. However, cases such as those of Tony Martin and Munir Hussain have led some to call for a change in the law so that the test is one of "not grossly disproportionate force" rather than "reasonable force". The Government is now proposing to legislate for such a change by way of the Crime and Courts Bill.
22.11.2012Knives and offensive weapons
This note summarises the legislation which governs the possession and sale of knives and other offensive weapons. It includes an overview of recent developments such as the Tackling Knives Action Programme and Brooke Kinsella's review of anti-knife crime projects.

Research Papers

DateDescription
26.10.2011Social Indicators
A compendium of the latest social statistics. This edition includes articles: The August 2011 riots: a statistical summary, and Initial proposals for new constituency boundaries.
09.08.2007The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Bill 130 of 2006-07
06.10.2006Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill (Bill 220 of 2005-06). House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/46
17.06.2005Violent Crime Reduction Bill (Bill 10 of 2005-06)
The Violent Crime Reduction Bill (Bill 10 2005-06). House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/49
09.06.2004Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Bill (HL) (Bill 83 2003/04)
The Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Bill (HL) (Bill 83 2003/04): Criminal procedure and victims. House of Commons Library Research Paper 04/43.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
19.07.2011Follow up on domestic violence, forced marriage and 'honour'-based violence.
Government response. Home Office report [Commons]
14.08.2009Knife crime.
Government response. Home Office report [Commons]
20.05.2009Knife crime.
Home Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
14.11.2011CALL OF DUTY 3
<p>That this House is deeply concerned about the recently released video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, in which players engage in gratuitous acts of violence against members ...
25.10.2011CLAIMS UNDER THE RIOT (DAMAGES) ACT 1886
<p>That this House notes the Prime Minister's commitment to meet legitimate claims under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886by police authorities in areas where the recent public disorder took ...
25.10.2011SUPERMARKETS AND CLAIMS UNDER THE RIOT (DAMAGES) ACT 1886
That this House notes the different responses of different retailers following the recent public disorder in Manchester; applauds the decision of Sainsbury's to refuse to claim under ...
11.10.2011VIOLENCE AGAINST SHOPWORKERS
That this House applauds the members and representatives of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) for their Freedom From Fear Campaign, which seeks to bring together ...
14.09.2011KILLING OF MOHAJIR PEOPLE IN PAKISTAN
That this House is deeply concerned at continuing reports of the large-scale murder of Urdu-speaking Mohajir people in Karachi and Sind region in Pakistan, including shootings in broad ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library