Made under the Police Act 1997
6 statutory instruments made using powers in the Police Act 1997, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Police Act 1997
Reduced the fees for basic, standard, and enhanced criminal record certificates and the criminal record update service.
These Regulations reduce the fees charged for various types of criminal record checks and the criminal record update service in England and Wales.
The order lowers the cost of basic and standard certificates to £20, reduces enhanced certificate fees to £41, and adjusts the update service fee to £15.
These changes apply to any individual or employer applying for a certificate or update information through the Disclosure and Barring Service starting from 5 October 2026.
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records and Registration) (Jersey) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Police Act 1997
Reduced the fees for criminal conviction, criminal record, and enhanced criminal record certificates in Jersey.
These regulations reduce the fees charged for various criminal record checks and update services in Jersey.
The Secretary of State exercises powers under the Police Act 1997, as extended to Jersey, to lower the cost of basic, standard, and enhanced criminal record certificates as well as the annual subscription to the update service. The changes apply to individuals and employers in Jersey seeking background checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) framework.
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records and Registration) (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Police Act 1997
Reduced the fees for basic, standard, and enhanced criminal record certificates and update service requests in the Isle of Man starting 5 October 2026.
These Regulations decrease the fees charged for various criminal record certificates and update services in the Isle of Man.
The Secretary of State directs these changes to apply to basic, standard, and enhanced criminal record certificates, as well as the annual subscription for the update service. The measures apply to individuals and organizations in the Isle of Man requesting criminal record information under the Police Act 1997.
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records and Registration) (Guernsey) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Police Act 1997
Lowered the statutory fees for basic, standard, and enhanced criminal record checks and update services in Guernsey.
These Regulations reduce the fees charged for various types of criminal record certificates and update services in Guernsey.
The measure applies to individuals applying for basic, standard, or enhanced criminal record checks and those utilizing the update service for certificate monitoring.
By amending existing 2009 regulations, the Secretary of State lowers the cost of standard and basic certificates to £20, enhanced certificates to £41, and update service requests to £15.
The Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
- Department: Department for Transport
- Made under: Police Act 1997, Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021
The Regulations created criminal offences for UAS operators and remote pilots breaching the UK Implementing Regulation for drone operations, set penalties, and amended related UK Acts concerning police powers and existing air navigation rules.
These Regulations establish criminal offences in the UK for UAS operators and remote pilots who fail to comply with specific requirements detailed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 concerning the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The legislation, which comes into force in January 2026 across the whole of the UK, specifies the breaches that constitute offences, ranging from registration failures to competency issues across 'open', 'specific', and 'certified' flight categories, sets out associated summary conviction penalties, and makes consequential amendments to the Police Act 1997, the Air Navigation Order 2016, and the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 to reflect these new criminal provisions.
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Police Act 1997
The Regulations amended the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002 and 2009 to add pedicab licensing suitability and healthcare roles within the DWP as prescribed purposes for enhanced criminal record certificates.
These Regulations, made under powers in the Police Act 1997, amend existing criminal records regulations from 2002 and 2009 to introduce two new purposes for obtaining enhanced criminal record certificates.
First, they include assessing an applicant's suitability to hold a licence under the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024.
Second, they allow for enhanced checks, including barring list checks, when assessing a registered health care professional’s suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults if they are employed or contracted by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.