In Focus
The number of community sentences issued by courts in England and Wales has declined since 2012. A recent House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee report concluded that community sentences were falling short of their potential. The committee said better use of community sentences would help cut crime and ease pressure on prisons. The House of Lords is due to debate the report on 26 July 2024.
Research Briefing
Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering justice for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
Research Briefing
Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering foreign affairs and international development for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
Research Briefing
Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering home affairs for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
Current Affairs Digest
In recent years, there has been a fall in levels of trust and confidence in policing. This followed a series of high-profile scandals, some of which involved serious offences committed by serving police officers. This briefing explores the role of media coverage in changing public perceptions of policing and also reports on calls by various parties to improve the current levels of confidence.
Research Briefing
The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 13 May 2024. The bill seeks to fulfil the commitment made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on 10 January 2023 to quash the convictions of those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal. It would extend and apply to England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. Its provisions would come into force at royal assent. During committee stage the bill was extended to Northern Ireland. There have also been calls for it to be extended to Scotland. The bill has received cross-party support but is controversial as the quashing of convictions by Parliament is unprecedented. In addition, concerns about the scope of the bill have been raised. The bill would not include individuals whose convictions were previously upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Research Briefing
The Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Young of Hornsey (Crossbench). It would place due diligence obligations concerning human rights and the environment on businesses and public sector bodies. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 10 May 2024.
In Focus
The UN recently published a toolkit for law enforcement officials to promote and protect human rights in the context of peaceful protests. It includes key principles for the use of digital technologies in relation to protests. This comes at a time when there are debates around the use of live facial recognition technology in public spaces by police in England and Wales. The government supports developing it as a crime-fighting tool, but others are concerned about its impact on privacy and other rights.
In Focus
Some separating couples apply to the family court to resolve disputes, such as where their child should live. Research has shown the negative impact that parental separation involving conflict can have on a child’s mental health and life chances. In January 2024, the government announced a reform programme of the family justice system to support families to resolve private family law disputes more quickly and protect children from lengthy court cases.
In Focus
Power and sport have long been linked. From hosting competitions and investing internationally to building new leagues at home, human rights organisations say that some states are using sports to ‘launder’ their international reputations while human rights abuses continue. Governing bodies cite political neutrality or argue that engaging with nations can lead to improvements in human rights.
In Focus
The Arbitration Bill [HL], currently before the House of Lords, is an example of a Law Commission bill. But what are Law Commission bills, what procedures apply to this category of proposed legislation and how else may proposals from the Law Commission reach the statute book? This briefing provides an overview.
Current Affairs Digest
Sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) were abolished in 2012. However, this abolition did not apply retrospectively to prisoners already serving IPPs. Recent prison population data on IPPs has shown over 1,200 prisoners have never been released. This briefing examines concerns raised by campaign groups, professional bodies and international partners about the impact of IPPs on prisoners’ release prospects and mental health.
Research Briefing
The Conversion Therapy Prohibition (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). Conversion therapy is a range of practices which seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. If passed, this bill would criminalise offering or practicing conversion therapy, defined as practices where the practitioner demonstrates an assumption of a preferable outcome for a person’s orientation or identity.
Research Briefing
The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill would confirm Rwanda as a safe country in UK domestic law. This would advance the government’s ‘Rwanda policy’, following a Supreme Court judgment that the policy was unlawful based on a risk that those removed to Rwanda under a UK-Rwanda asylum partnership could be returned to countries where they may face persecution or other inhumane treatment. The bill passed the House of Commons unamended.
In Focus
Operation Conifer was the codename used for an investigation led by Wiltshire Police into historic accusations of sexual offences by former prime minister Sir Edward Heath. The investigation closed in 2017, leaving the accusations unproven and unresolved. A number of people, including members of the House of Lords, have criticised the investigation and those involved in running it. There have also been repeated calls for an independent inquiry to review the unresolved allegations.
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