This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill in the House of Lords on 26 February 2016.
Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill 2015–16: Briefing for Lords Stages (131 KB , PDF)
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill is a House of Commons private member’s bill introduced by William Wragg (Conservative MP for Hazel Grove). It is supported in the House of Lords by Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench). The Bill has passed its stages in the House of Commons without amendment and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 26 February 2016. It is supported by the Government.
Under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has the power to require public bodies to disclose and provide documents and other materials which may help the CCRC in exercising its duties. The Bill would extend this power to allow the CCRC—following the granting of an order by the Crown Court—to request such documents from someone who is not employed by or serving in a public body. The explanatory notes to the Bill explain that “unlike their counterpart in Scotland” the CCRC currently has no power to require such individuals to supply this information.
Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill 2015–16: Briefing for Lords Stages (131 KB , PDF)
The European Convention on Human Rights was signed by the members of the Council of Europe, including the UK, in Rome in 1950. The UK was one of the first states to ratify it in 1951 and it is now incorporated into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998. The UK government has recently restated its unequivocal commitment to the convention.
The crown court backlog reached a record high of 73,105 cases in September 2024. The impact on victims, witnesses and defendants has been significant as they wait longer for their cases to be resolved. The government commissioned an independent review of criminal courts that will produce reform recommendations to address crown court pressures. Whilst stakeholders have welcomed the review, some have called for more immediate action to reduce the backlog.
Iranian authorities have detained British and dual nationals on various charges in recent years, including espionage. The exact number of those detained is not published because some choose to avoid publicity. UN human rights experts have referred to “systemic arbitrary detention” in Iran. The Labour government plans to support British nationals detained overseas by creating a special envoy for complex detention cases and ensuring a legal right to consular assistance.
