Criminal law

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on criminal law. 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
15.07.2013In brief: the 2014 bloc opt-out and selective opt-back-ins
This note, prepared for the parliamentary debate on 15 July 2013, looks briefly at the current situation regarding the UK's 2014 decision on justice and home affairs measures and lists the 35 measures the Government would like to opt back into.
06.06.2013Knives 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.
31.05.2013The retention and disclosure of criminal records
This note sets out the rules in England and Wales governing the retention and disclosure of conviction and non-conviction information held on the Police National Computer and the Police National Database.
29.05.2013Miscarriages of justice: compensation schemes
This note describes the statutory scheme under which victims of miscarriages of justice can apply to the Government for compensation.
22.05.2013The Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Bill [Bill 7 of 2013-14]
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill (Bill 7 of 2013-14) was introduced in the Commons on 9 May 2013. This standard note gives a brief outline of the main areas of the Bill together with sources for further reading.

Research Papers

DateDescription
04.06.2013Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill
This Bill, which is wide-ranging, will receive its second reading in the House of Commons on 10 June 2013. Amongst other changes, it would reform the 'tool kit' of remedies for anti-social behaviour; amend the law on dangerous dogs; introduce new firearms offences; criminalise forced marriage; give powers to the new College of Policing; implement some of the Winsor report's recommendations on police remuneration; provide new powers for the Independent Police Complaints Commission; and make changes to compensation for miscarriage of justice.
03.12.2012Police (Complaints and Conduct) Bill
This Bill is due to go through all its Commons stages under the Fast-Track procedure on 5 December 2012. It would make two changes to the powers of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. These are designed to enable the Commission to investigate allegations against the police in relation to the Hillsborough disaster. The Bill has reportedly been welcomed by the Opposition. It extends to England and Wales, and parts of it extend to the whole UK.
20.10.2011Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee Stage Report
05.07.2011Police (Detention and Bail) Bill
This Research Paper has been prepared for the Commons stages of the Police (Detention and Bail) Bill, which is being fast-tracked and is due to undergo all of its remaining Commons stages on 7 July 2011. The Bill would reverse the effect of the High Court's recent decision in the Hookway case, in which it held that the 'detention clock' limiting the period that the police can hold a suspect for without charge continued to run when the suspect was released on bail
04.07.2011Legal aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Bill No 205 of 2010-12
This Research Paper has been prepared for the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. The Bill covers a diverse range of issues, including legal aid; litigation funding and costs; sentencing; bail, remand and release on licence; prisoners' pay and employment; out of court disposals and knives.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
26.01.2010Appointment of HM CPS Chief Inspector.
Justice Select Committee report [Commons]
05.05.2009Procedural rights in EU criminal proceedings.
European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
31.03.2009Legislative scrutiny: Policing and Crime Bill.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
14.12.2009AUTOMATISM AS A DEFENCE IN LAW
That this House considers current UK law which provides sleepwalking as a defence for rape or murder to be grossly unreasonable following recent cases, including a not guilty verdict ...
18.11.2009CRIMINAL LAW (S.I., 2009, NO. 2773)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Conditional Cautions: Financial Penalties) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2773), dated 15 ...
18.11.2009CRIMINAL LAW (S.I., 2009, No. 2720)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Costs in Criminal Cases (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2720), dated 8 October 2009, a copy ...
15.10.2009CRIMINAL LAW (S.I., 2009, No. 2720)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Costs in Criminal Cases (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2720), dated 8 October 2009, a copy ...
20.07.2009MAGISTRATES' COURTS (S.I., 2009, No. 1496)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Magistrates' Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 2009, (S.I., 2009, No. 1496), dated 10 June 2009, a copy of which was ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
15.11.2011Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (HL Bill 109 of 2010-12)
This Library Note provides background information in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.
15.03.2007Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill. LLN 2007/002
02.02.2007Serious Crime Bill (HL Bill 27, 2006-07). LLN 2007/001
Serious Crime Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2007/001

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) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords