Research Briefing
This note examines the UK responses to human trafficking, including the Government's strategy and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking and a related EU Directive. Standard Note SN/HA/6792 looks at the Draft Modern Slavery Bill published in December 2013.
Research Briefing
Summary of statistics on the extent and nature of domestic violence from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).
Research Briefing
The Bill covers a range of issues but its most controversial aspect (at second reading and in Committee) is that it would pave the way for the contracting-out of offender rehabilitation services for low and medium-risk offenders to private and voluntary sector providers, leaving a national probation service to manage high-risk offenders. The Government had intended to make these changes through secondary legislation, but a non-Government amendment in the House of Lords brought the changes onto the face of the Bill. That new clause was removed in Committee.
Research Briefing
The Government has announced that, from March 2014, it will introduce a national domestic violence disclosure scheme. This will provide a framework for the police to disclose information about an individual’s history of domestic violence to a new partner.
Research Briefing
On 25 November 2013, it will be a year since two new stalking offences came into force. This Thursday sees a Backbench Business Committee Debate in the House of Commons on the implementation of the new law. So has changing the law done enough to protect victims?
Research Briefing
This Bill would extend the mandatory supervision of offenders released from custodial sentences to provide that all offenders would be subject to at least 12 months of supervision in the community. It would also introduce new requirements, including drug appointments and residence requirements, which could be applied to offenders subject to such post-release supervision and offenders subject to community and suspended sentence orders.
Research Briefing
The Ministry of Justice plans to allow organisations from the voluntary and private sectors to provide rehabilitation services in the community for low and medium risk offenders. New providers would be paid according to the reductions in re-offending they achieve. It is also legislating through the Offender Rehabilitation Bill to introduce and extend statutory supervision periods for short-sentence offenders. The Ministry of Justice says these and other proposals set out in the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation strategy document (published 9 May 2013) will help to reduce reoffending while continuing to protect the public.
Research Briefing
The problem of youth crime, and how best to respond to it, has attracted political attention for decades. More than 30 years ago, for example, the 1979 Conservative party manifesto promised to make more use of attendance centres for “hooligans” and to give a “short, sharp shock” to young offenders.
Research Briefing
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill (Bill 7 of 2013-14) is due to have its report stage on 14 and 15 October 2013. This note sets out the debate so far.
Research Briefing
This note, prepared for the parliamentary debate on 15 July 2013, looks briefly at the current situation regarding the UK's 2014 decision on justice and home affairs measures and lists the 35 measures the Government would like to opt back into.
Research Briefing
The Digital Economy Act 2010 received Royal Assent at the very end of the last Parliament. Sections 3 to 18 of the Act cover online infringement of copyright. Several provisions have proved controversial and have not yet been implemented.
Research Briefing
This Bill, which is wide-ranging, will receive its second reading in the House of Commons on 10 June 2013. Amongst other changes, it would reform the “tool kit” of remedies for anti-social behaviour; amend the law on dangerous dogs; introduce new firearms offences; criminalise forced marriage; give powers to the new College of Policing; implement some of the Winsor report’s recommendations on police remuneration; provide new powers for the Independent Police Complaints Commission; and make changes to compensation for miscarriage of justice.
Research Briefing
Clauses 112-115 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill 2013-2014 would abolish the Police Negotiating Board, the current negotiating forum for police pay, and replace it with a new Police Remuneration Review Body. The Bill would take forward proposals in the final report of the Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions (the Winsor Review). This note outlines the historical background of the Police Negotiating Board, the relevant recommendations of the Winsor Review and the Government’s response to it.
Research Briefing
This note summarises the legislation restricting the possession and use of firearms in England and Wales and proposals for change.
Total results (page 41 of 53)