• Research Briefing

    Anonymity in rape cases

    People who complain that they have been the victims of sexual offences are automatically given anonymity. Defendants in such cases, however, are not. This note considers the relevant legislation and the continuing debate as to whether defendants should be granted some form of anonymity. Shortly after the general election the Government indicated that it intended to introduce anonymity for defendants in rape cases. However, these plans were subsequently dropped on the basis that there was insufficient empirical evidence on which to base a decision on providing those accused of rape with anonymity.

  • Research Briefing

    Firearm Crime Statistics

    This Standard Note summarises statistics relating to crimes recorded by the police in England, Wales and Scotland in which firearms were reportedly used.

  • Research Briefing

    Police Pay – Booth review (2008–2011 pay deal)

    Since 1979 annual pay increases for police officers have been determined under a formula linked to an annual survey of settlement levels for non-manual employees in the private sector. In 2006 this led to a recommendation of a 3% pay increase that Home Office officials and management representatives did not agree to. This led to a dispute over police pay that lasted until October 2008, when a multi-year pay settlement was reached by the Police Negotiating Board for police officers in England & Wales. The three-year deal was backdated to 1 September 2008 and will run through to 31 August 2011.

  • Research Briefing

    Police pay and conditions: Winsor Review

    In October 2010, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced the “most comprehensive review of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years”. The independent review covering England and Wales was led to Tom Winsor, the former Rail Regulator. In March 2011, Mr Winsor published his first report, which “covered short-term improvements to remuneration and terms and conditions”.

  • Research Briefing

    Internet regulation

    The practicalities of blocking and filtering harmful material on the internet have generated interest in a range of contexts: the misuse of social media during the August 2011 riots, child sexual abuse images and copyright infringement.

  • Research Briefing

    Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee Stage Report

    This is a report on the House of Commons committee stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/53. In the Bill’s remaining stages, it is likely that the areas that will prove most contentious will be the restrictions on legal aid, the introduction of new offences and possible Government amendments on squatting and self-defence and sentences of imprisonment for public protection.

  • Research Briefing

    Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Bill – Committee Stage Report

    This Bill is a Private Members’ Bill introduced by Sir Paul Beresford. It has received Government support. This Bill was introduced into the Commons on 30 June 2010, and received its second reading without debate on 18 March 2011. The Government tabled a series of amendments for the Bill’s committee stage, which were welcomed by Sir Paul. These amendments were all added to the Bill without division. The Bill is due to have its report stage on Friday 21 October 2011.

  • Research Briefing

    UK Government opt-in decisions in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

    The creation of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice is based on the Tampere (1999-04), Hague (2004-09) and Stockholm (2010-14) programmes. It derives from the pre-Lisbon Title IV TEC (Visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to free movement of persons) and Title VI TEU (Provisions on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters) and is now Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the “Area of freedom, security and justice” (AFSJ). The AFSJ therefore comprises policies relating to border controls, asylum and immigration; judicial cooperation in civil matters; judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation.

  • Research Briefing

    Cloud computing

    The cloud is a reference to the internet, and cloud computing means relocating computer resources and activities on to the internet. This note considers the potential for cloud computing, its applications and risks.

  • Research Briefing

    Policing riots

    This note looks at the possible roles of the police and armed forces in controlling riots. A separate Library standard note 6048 deals with compensation and insurance for those affected by riots.

  • Research Briefing

    Police (Detention and Bail) Bill

    This Research Paper has been prepared for the Commons stages of the Police (Detention and Bail) Bill, which is being fast-tracked and is due to undergo all of its remaining Commons stages on 7 July 2011. The Bill would reverse the effect of the High Court’s recent decision in the Hookway case, in which it held that the “detention clock” limiting the period that the police can hold a suspect for without charge continued to run when the suspect was released on bail

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