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

Date	Description
15.07.2013	In 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.
06.06.2013	Knives 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.
31.05.2013	The 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.
29.05.2013	Miscarriages of justice: compensation schemes
	This note describes the statutory scheme under which victims of miscarriages of justice can apply to the Government for compensation.
22.05.2013	The 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

Date	Description
04.06.2013	Anti-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.
03.12.2012	Police (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.
20.10.2011	Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee Stage Report
05.07.2011	Police (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
04.07.2011	Legal 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

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

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
14.12.2009	AUTOMATISM 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 ...
18.11.2009	CRIMINAL 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 ...
18.11.2009	CRIMINAL 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 ...
15.10.2009	CRIMINAL 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 ...
20.07.2009	MAGISTRATES' 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

Date	Description
15.11.2011	Legal 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.
15.03.2007	Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill. LLN 2007/002
02.02.2007	Serious Crime Bill (HL Bill 27, 2006-07). LLN 2007/001
	Serious Crime Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2007/001