Our research on home affairs

A recent investigation has documented an increase in reports of antisemitic incidents at universities in the UK. The Community Security Trust’s December 2020 report also made a number of recommendations to UK universities about how they should respond to reports of antisemitism. The House of Lords is due to debate the report on 21 January 2021.

Covid-19 has impacted the work of LGBTI+ organisations around the world. This article looks at a recent report by the Baring Foundation which calls for increased spending by the UK Government on global LGBTI+ rights and outlines the current spending commitments in this area.

In August and September 2020, the Government made several changes to the planning system in England. It introduced secondary legislation creating new permitted development rights and making changes to use classes. Five of these statutory instruments are being debated in the House of Lords on 27 October 2020. This article provides a summary of these instruments and the scrutiny they have received so far in Parliament.

Since 1 January 2021, the UK has been operating a new points-based immigration system. Critics suggest that human trafficking and human smuggling could increase under this system. This article explores two of these concerns.

The use of antique firearms in criminal activity has risen in recent years. Antique firearms which are kept as ornaments or curiosities are currently exempt from several provisions within firearms legislation. At present, there is no statutory definition of ‘antique firearm’. This article discusses new regulations that seek to introduce a legal definition.

This government bill seeks to increase awareness of domestic abuse, strengthen support for victims and improve the effectiveness of the justice system. The bill includes provisions on several areas. It includes a new definition of domestic abuse, extra protection for victims and witnesses in court, and codifies the principle that consent to offences involving violent or abusive behaviour is not a defence.

Medicinal and agrochemical products can be granted a Supplementary Protection Certificate, an intellectual property right associated with patents, to provide up to five years of additional rights and protections once their patents have expired. In order to apply for an SPC, a product must receive approval to be sold on the UK market. Under the Northern Ireland/Ireland Protocol, products to be sold in Northern Ireland must obtain approval under EU law, whilst products to be sold in the rest of the UK will obtain approval under UK law. Currently, this marketing authorisation is only given on a UK-wide basis. This regulation amends the market authorisation process to enable authorisations to be granted for the Northern Ireland market only and for the Great Britain market only.

The Audiovisual Media Services (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 govern how on-demand programming and video-sharing platforms will be regulated after the Brexit transition period ends.

The UK’s arts and entertainment sector has been one of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The decline in revenues and the number of workers furloughed over the past few months is second only to the accommodation and food sector. This article examines the impact of the pandemic on the UK’s cultural industry and the Government’s recently announced support package worth £1.57 billion aimed at helping the sector recover.

In 1945, Parliament passed the Family Allowances Act. This article summarises the campaign to provide financial support to families with children and the passing of the Act. It also provides statistics on child benefits today.

People over the age of 70 have been identified as being at higher risk of serious illness as a result of Covid-19. This article summarises the advice given to the over-70s and the debate over whether government policy has resulted in age discrimination.

Fewer than 90 peerages can be inherited by a female heir, and may pass in the female line. This article examines proposals put forward by campaign groups, and some parliamentarians, which would see a change in the rules preventing women inheriting titles.

Since 1 January 2021, the UK has been operating a new points-based immigration system. Critics suggest that human trafficking and human smuggling could increase under this system. This article explores two of these concerns.

This government bill seeks to increase awareness of domestic abuse, strengthen support for victims and improve the effectiveness of the justice system. The bill includes provisions on several areas. It includes a new definition of domestic abuse, extra protection for victims and witnesses in court, and codifies the principle that consent to offences involving violent or abusive behaviour is not a defence.

Catch up on home affairs articles you may have missed from November 2020. This month we take a look at the Government's proposed points-based immigration system, and the mental effects of long prison sentences.

Judicial review involves a judge reviewing the lawfulness of a decision that has been made by a public body. Following the Government's announcement of an independent review that will consider if judicial review reform is needed, this article looks at what judicial review is, and recent debates about whether the process is working.

On 18 March 2020, the Government introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill in the House of Commons. It completed report stage and third reading in the Commons on 3 November 2020. Second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled to take place on 20 January 2021.

Catch up on home affairs articles you may have missed from November 2020. This month we take a look at the Government's proposed points-based immigration system, and the mental effects of long prison sentences.

On 18 March 2020, the Government introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill in the House of Commons. It completed report stage and third reading in the Commons on 3 November 2020. Second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled to take place on 20 January 2021.

The use of antique firearms in criminal activity has risen in recent years. Antique firearms which are kept as ornaments or curiosities are currently exempt from several provisions within firearms legislation. At present, there is no statutory definition of ‘antique firearm’. This article discusses new regulations that seek to introduce a legal definition.

The Law Enforcement and Security (Separation Issues etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 allow for the implementation of the separation provisions in the UK-EU withdrawal agreement relating to law enforcement and security cooperation.