England and Wales: “Zombie Style” Knives and Machetes Banned
A ban on “zombie style” knives and machetes will enter into force September 24, 2024, under a statutory instrument made on April 30, 2024. The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) Order 2024 amends the Criminal Justice Act (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988 to include “zombie style” machetes and knives as prohibited weapons … Continue reading “England and Wales: “Zombie Style”…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-09-19
Article
England and Wales: Offenders Serving Life Sentences Prohibited from Marrying
Offenders sentenced to life imprisonment and a whole life order are now prohibited from marrying or entering a civil partnership while serving their sentence, under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which entered into force on August 2, 2024.Whole life orders are imposed on exceptionally serious offenders who are sentenced to life in prison with … Continue reading “England and Wales: Offenders Serving Life…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-09-03
Article
England and Scotland: Proposed Amendment to Egg Labeling Laws Designed to Cut Red Tape
The British government announced on January 9, 2024, that it was undertaking a public consultation on whether the Egg Marketing Standards Regulations should be amended. The government has requested comments to determine if it should remove a requirement that farmers change the label on their eggs from “Free Range” to “Barn” when chickens are kept … Continue reading “England and Scotland: Proposed Amendment to…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-05-02
Article
England and Wales: Overseas Companies Required to Comply with UK Competition and Markets Authority Requests
On January 17, 2024, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales confirmed that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has the power to require companies based overseas to produce documents and information when requested as part of an investigation into suspected anticompetitive conduct by a vehicle manufacturer. In this case, the CMA suspects Bayerische … Continue reading “England and Wales: Overseas Companies Required…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-04-28
Article
England: Ban on Private Ownership of Primates Proposed
On December 14, 2023, the British government laid before Parliament a draft of the Animal Welfare (Primate Licenses) (England) Regulations, which would ban the private ownership of primates in England. The draft statutory instrument would require from April 6, 2026, onward that any person who keeps a primate obtain a primate license issued under the … Continue reading “England: Ban on Private Ownership of…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-03-03
Article
United Kingdom: Legislation Introduced to Regulate Physicians’ Associates and Anesthesia Associates
On December 12, 2023, the United Kingdom’s (U.K.’s) minister for health and secondary care made a written statement in Parliament announcing the government’s intention to introduce regulations that would provide the General Medical Council (GMC) with the power to regulate physicians’ associates (PA) and anesthesia associates (AA). PAs and AAs began functioning in the National … Continue reading “United Kingdom: Legislation Introduced to Regulate…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-02-25
Article
England: Financial Penalties Implemented for Animal Health and Welfare Offenses
On December 11, 2023, the British government laid the Animals (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2023 before Parliament. The regulations were made under the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2023 and entered into force on January 1, 2024. The regulations add to enforcement measures for criminal offenses relating to animal health and welfare and allow financial penalty … Continue reading “England: Financial Penalties Implemented for Animal…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-02-21
Article
England and Wales: Government to Introduce Amendment to Criminal Justice Bill to Clarify Laws Prohibiting Spiking of Drinks
On December 18, 2023, the British government announced that it intended to introduce an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that is applicable to England and Wales to provide for a stand-alone offense of spiking. Spiking occurs where a substance is administered to a person without their knowledge or consent. It most commonly happens when … Continue reading “England and Wales: Government to Introduce…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-02-05
Article
England and Wales: Private Members’ Bill Seeks to Reduce Abortion Term Limit
A private members’ bill was introduced in the British House of Lords on December 7, 2023, to reduce the term limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 22 weeks, except in the most serious of health circumstances. The Abortion (Gestational Time Limit Reduction) Bill is short, containing only two clauses. The first would amend section … Continue reading “England and Wales: Private Members’ Bill…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-01-29
Article
England and Wales: High Court Rules Government Plan to House Asylum Seekers in Military Barracks Lawful
On December 6, 2023, the British High Court dismissed a claim for judicial review of a government plan to use two decommissioned Ministry of Defence sites to house asylum seekers under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. The government had stated that it intended to apply for permission to use … Continue reading “England and Wales: High Court Rules…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-01-21
Article
England and Wales: New Reforms Aim to Help Prevent Convicted Offenders from Reoffending
Reforms under part 11 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 entered into force in England and Wales on October 28, 2023. The reforms reduce the rehabilitation period during which former prisoners are legally required to inform employers of their convictions or to declare their convictions in order to obtain insurance and housing … Continue reading “England and Wales: New Reforms Aim…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-01-16
Article
England and Wales: New Law Implements Ban on XL Bully Dog Breed
In an opinion piece on September 17, 2023, then-British Environment Secretary Therese Coffey reported that there had been a significant rise in high profile dog attacks across England and Wales that had resulted in both serious injuries and fatalities. The environment secretary noted the American XL bully breed had been “disproportionately involved in this rise.” Prime … Continue reading “England and Wales: New Law…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-01-11
Article
England and Wales: Contraception Pill Now Available Directly from Pharmacists
On November 17, 2023, the British government announced that women over the age of 16 will be able to obtain prescription contraceptive pills in England and Wales from a pharmacist, free of charge, without the need for a referral from or appointment with their doctor. For a combined oral hormonal contraceptive, the pharmacist must take … Continue reading “England and Wales: Contraception Pill Now…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-01-09
Article
England and Wales: Nitrous Oxide Added to List of Prohibited Drugs
On November 8, 2023, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2023 made nitrous oxide a Class C drug in England and Wales under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession of this drug is now punishable by up to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 1,000 British pounds (approximately US$1,250), … Continue reading “England and Wales: Nitrous Oxide Added…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-01-04
Article
England and Wales: Sentencing Bill Toughens Sentences for Violent Offenders and Removes Prison Sentences for Low-Risk Offenders
On November 14, 2023, the government of England and Wales introduced the Sentencing Bill in the House of Commons. The bill aims to protect victims from offenders who have committed violent crimes through reforming the sentencing laws and to help rehabilitate low-risk offenders by removing custodial prison sentences for those sentenced to prison terms of … Continue reading “England and Wales: Sentencing Bill Toughens…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-12-26
Article
England and Wales: Criminal Justice Bill Introduced in House of Commons
On November 14, 2023, the Criminal Justice Bill was introduced in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons. The bill sets forth a number of police powers, new offenses, and court powers that aim to help increase safety in England and Wales and meet the government’s zero tolerance approach to crime and antisocial behavior. Notably, the … Continue reading “England and Wales: Criminal Justice Bill…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-12-19
Article
England and Wales: Government Considering Introducing Legislation to Rent Space in Foreign Prisons
On October 3, 2023, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice announced in a press release that Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk is in “exploratory discussions” with countries in Europe to rent prison space overseas in order to ensure that the public is protected against those convicted of criminal offenses.According to the press release, … Continue reading “England and Wales: Government Considering Introducing…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-10-30
Article
England and Wales: Proposed Law Would Suspend Parental Rights of Convicted Killers
On October 3, 2023, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice announced that Justice Secretary Alex Chalk would be introducing an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill. The amendment would automatically suspend the parental responsibility of an individual convicted of killing their partner or ex-partner with whom they share a child. The proposed amendment, known … Continue reading “England and Wales: Proposed Law Would…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-10-22
Article
England: Proposed Law Would Introduce Total Ban on Cigarette Sales in Attempt to Phase Out Smoking
On October 4, 2023, the United Kingdom’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, announced his intention to introduce a new law that would prohibit the sale of cigarettes in England to individuals born after January 1, 2009. The proposed law, which would phase out smoking by increasing the legal smoking age each year until it applies to … Continue reading “England: Proposed Law Would Introduce Total…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-10-16
Article
England: New Draft Regulations Would Make Microchipping of Household Cats Mandatory
The British government has laid a draft statutory instrument before Parliament that would, for the first time, require domestic cats in England to have a microchip. The Microchipping of Cats and Dogs Regulations will take effect on June 10, 2024, if they receive parliamentary approval. The microchipping of dogs has been required since February 2, … Continue reading “England: New Draft Regulations Would Make…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-05-23
Article
England and Wales: Family Court Determines Term ‘Psychologist’ Is a Generic Label
In a decision issued on February 21, 2023, for the case of Re: C in the Family Division of the High Court in England and Wales, the president of the family division determined that the term “psychologist” is a generic label that can be used by anyone. He stated that while there is a need … Continue reading “England and Wales: Family Court Determines…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-04-03
Article
England and Wales: Reforms Require Police to Consult with Crime Victims Before Releasing Suspects on Bail
The provisions of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which amends the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, entered into force in England and Wales at the end of October 2022. The new law provides the police with a legal duty to consider the views of the crime victim before releasing the suspect … Continue reading “England and Wales: Reforms Require Police…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-03-27
Article
England and Wales: Legal Age for Marriage Raised from 16 to 18
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which received royal assent on April 28, 2022, entered into force in England and Wales on February 27, 2023. The act, which was a private member’s bill that received widespread cross-party support, amends the Marriage Act 1949 and increases the minimum age to marry in England … Continue reading “England and Wales: Legal Age for…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-03-22
Article
England and Wales: Social Housing Bill Moves Closer to Royal Assent
The Social Housing (Regulation) Bill is currently in the report stage of the House of Commons. Described as providing “a major reset of power between tenants and landlords,” the bill will amend the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Introduced in the House of Lords in June 2022, the bill aims to complete the Conservative party’s … Continue reading “England and Wales: Social Housing Bill…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-03-08
Article
England and Wales: Government Publishes Statutory Guidance to Support ‘Serious Violence Duty’
On December 16, 2022, the government published statutory guidance to help support specified authorities and local governments fulfill their statutory responsibility to combat serious violent crime in the country. This responsibility, called the “Serious Violence Duty,” was introduced by section 8 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 due to a substantial increase … Continue reading “England and Wales: Government Publishes Statutory…
