England and Wales: Prisoners’
(Jan. 11, 2012) The High Court of England and Wales recently dismissed a case in which prisoners claimed that the practice of requiring them to urinate or defecate in plastic buckets violated their human rights. The Court held that it did not violate the prisoners' human rights as provided in the Human Rights Act 1998, […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2012-01-11
Article
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: Role of Magistrates’ Court in Decline?
(Sept. 22, 2010) The magistrates' courts in England and Wales have witnessed a decline in the number of cases over the past ten years, with over 310,000 offenders fewer heard in 2009 than in 1999. The role of the magistrate, which is coming up on its 650-year anniversary next year, is to deliver justice locally, […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2010-09-22
Article
England and Wales: Social Media and Naming Rape Victims
(May 16, 2012) It was reported on April 24, 2012, that 12 people across England and Wales have been arrested for allegedly both naming and harassing by means of social media a victim of rape, following the conviction of Sheffield United Football Club's Ched Evans. (Ched Evans: Rape Case Twitter Arrests Warning by Police, BBC […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2012-05-16
Article
England and Wales: High Court Rules Asylum-Seeker Housing Unlawful
On June 3, 2021, the High Court of England and Wales found that housing provided to asylum seekers in Napier Barracks in southeast England by the Home Office was unlawful due to poor living conditions and the adverse impact of those conditions on the physical and mental health of the asylum seekers. (R, on the … Continue reading “England and Wales: High Court Rules…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2021-07-18
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: Indeterminate Sentences Not Unlawful
(June 1, 2009) The House of Lords, the UK's final court of appeal, has recently ruled that indeterminate sentences for public protection (commonly known as IPPs) should remain in place, despite there being a lack of adequate resources available to prisoners sentenced under these provisions that might aid them in securing their release. The current […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2009-06-01
Article
England and Wales: Government Proposes Reforms to the Civil Courts
The government of England and Wales recently issued a public consultation seeking opinions on reforms to the civil justice system. In an effort to promote settling disputes outside of court, the government proposes to automatically divert all small claims in the civil courts (considered to be claims under 10,000 pounds (£) (about US$12,000)) to receive … Continue reading “England and Wales: Government Proposes Reforms…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2022-09-21
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 Wales: Thousands Receive Posthumous Pardon for Homosexuality Convictions
(Feb. 23, 2017) Section 166 of the recently enacted Policing and Crime Act of England and Wales granted approximately 49,000 deceased gay and bisexual men a posthumous pardon for offenses they were convicted of under the old sexual offenses laws that had provided that homosexuality was a crime. The Act also states that any living person who […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2017-02-23
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: 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: Drop in Compensation for Helmetless Cyclist
(Mar. 20, 2009) A High Court ruling has caused concern that cyclists in England not wearing helmets while riding their bikes could face a reduction in compensation for accidents, even where they are not at fault. There is no law in England requiring that cyclists wear helmets when biking. The ruling, following the principles of […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2009-03-20
Article
England and Wales: Draft Regulations Introduced to Ban Single Use Plastics
(Mar. 13, 2020) As part of its 25 Year Environment Plan, the government of England and Wales introduced draft Regulations, known as the Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020, on March 3, 2020. The draft Regulations would ban the supply of certain single-use plastics, including straws, cotton swabs (such as […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2020-03-13
Article
England and Wales: Bill Provides for Offense of Public Sexual Harassment
A private member’s bill to provide the offense of public sexual harassment based on sex is progressing through Parliament and, on December 9, 2022, the government announced its support for the bill. The bill, titled Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public, will add a new section 4B to the Public Order Act 1986 and provide … Continue reading “England and Wales: Bill Provides for…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2023-01-26
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: Bill Seeks to Increase Animal Cruelty Prison Sentences
(Sept. 10, 2019) The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was introduced in England and Wales on June 25, 2019, to increase the maximum sentence applicable to individuals who cause unnecessary suffering to animals. The aim of the bill is to deter cruelty to animals and ensure that judges have appropriate means to sentence individuals in the […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2019-09-10
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: Sentence Increased for Defendant Convicted of Importing Prohibited Weapons
On July 27, 2022, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales increased the sentence of an individual convicted of attempting to import a gun into the United Kingdom (U.K.). The sentence for Haroon Iqbal, who was originally sentenced to two years and three months in prison for attempting to possess a prohibited weapon, was … Continue reading “England and Wales: Sentence Increased for…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2022-10-17
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: 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: Amnesty International Worker Wins Discrimination Case
(Oct. 9, 2009) An employment tribunal upheld a claim by a worker for Amnesty International that she was discriminated against on the basis of race and ethnic origin. The worker, a Sudanese national, had applied for a promotion as a Sudanese researcher for the organization but was unsuccessful due to concerns that “her ethnic origin […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2009-10-09
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: Parents Will Not Be Prosecuted for Son’s Suicide
(Dec. 17, 2008) The Director of Public Prosecutions in England and Wales has made the decision, issued on December 9, 2008, not to prosecute the parents of a 23-year-old paralyzed man who accompanied him to Switzerland to a suicide clinic. The parents faced prosecution in England for aiding and abetting a suicide; under the Suicide […]
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2008-12-17
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…
