Civil Liberties Legislation
Laws and regulations protecting individual rights, freedoms, and civil liberties, including privacy rights, freedom of expression, and anti-discrimination measures.
The Payment Services and Payment Accounts (Contract Termination) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Payment Services and Payment Accounts (Contract Termination) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective April 28, 2026, amend existing regulations to enhance consumer protection regarding payment service contract terminations.
Key changes include increased notice periods (90 days for contracts made on or after April 28, 2026), requirements for more detailed explanations of contract refusals and terminations, and specific exceptions for situations involving money laundering, serious crime, or immigration requirements.
These amendments aim to improve transparency and fairness in the termination of payment service contracts.
The National Security Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
These regulations, the second set under the National Security Act 2023, bring into effect Part 4 of that Act, specifically the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.
This scheme starts on July 1st, 2025, and applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The regulations cite the power conferred by section 100(1) of the 2023 Act and provide for detailed commencement information.
An impact assessment is available online and in hard copy.
The National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Publication) Regulations 2025
These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to publish information from the National Security Act 2023's foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme on a public website. Publication includes details of registered foreign activity and foreign influence arrangements, subject to exceptions for national security, crime prevention, individual safety, and commercially sensitive information.
The information remains published for up to ten years, depending on the arrangement's duration.
The regulations specify precisely which information must be made public for each registration type.
The Investigatory Powers (Codes of Practice, Review of Notices and Technical Advisory Board) Regulations 2025
These regulations bring into force new and revised codes of practice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, clarifying procedures for bulk data access and communications interception.
They define "relevant change" regarding operator-system alterations requiring notification, specify review periods for notices, and amend the 2018 regulations governing the Technical Advisory Board, adjusting its membership and quorum requirements.
The Immigration (Citizens’ Rights Appeals) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Immigration (Citizens’ Rights Appeals) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2020 Regulations to modify the right of appeal against deportation decisions.
The amendment ensures that the right of appeal only arises after an individual has been given the opportunity to make representations to the Secretary of State and the decision to deport has been finalized, aligning it with the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
This change aims to improve procedural fairness and potentially streamline the appeals process.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2025
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2025 bring into force section 17 of the 2024 Act.
This section invalidates any agreement preventing victims from disclosing crime-related information to specified bodies like law enforcement and victim support services.
The regulations establish a two-stage commencement: June 1st, 2025 for the purpose of making further regulations, and October 1st, 2025 for all other purposes.
The regulations also note prior commencement of other sections of the 2024 Act.
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025
This Order modifies the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 to expand legal aid access for domestic abuse cases.
It broadens the definition of 'domestic abuse,' replaces outdated terms like 'domestic violence' with the modern terminology, and extends coverage to encompass numerous procedures connected to domestic abuse protection orders.
Furthermore, the Order adjusts related civil and criminal legal aid regulations to ensure consistency and effectiveness in providing aid.
The Registration of Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Registration Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective May 27, 2025, amend the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2015 and the Civil Partnership (Registration Provisions) Regulations 2005.
The changes mandate new forms for marriage and civil partnership registrations, incorporating requirements from the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.
These additions require the responsible authority statement to specify whether a detained individual is serving a whole life sentence and if subject to a whole life order.
The changes apply to England and Wales, and updated Welsh language forms are also included.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025
These regulations, enacted under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, bring several key provisions into force in England and Wales (and partially Scotland) on August 1st, 2025.
The regulations detail the duties of registered higher education providers, constituent institutions, and students' unions concerning free speech, along with related amendments to the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and other legislation.
These actions aim to fully establish legal frameworks for protecting freedom of speech on higher education campuses.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective April 28th, 2025, initiate a pilot program in six specified areas of North Wales for a limited period, implementing Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
This includes rolling out new domestic abuse protection notices and orders, aiming to bolster protection for victims.
The program also rectifies inconsistencies in prior commencement regulations.
The initiative's impact will be carefully assessed for informing further national implementation.
The Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
These regulations, made under the Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024, bring section 5 of that Act into force on April 25th, 2025.
This section concerns the handling of third-party bulk personal datasets.
The regulations apply across the UK and have been approved by the Minister of State for the Home Office. An impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to a lack of predicted significant impact on the public or private sectors.
The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025
The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025, enacted under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, specify the roles of independent domestic violence advisors, independent sexual violence advisors, and independent stalking advocates.
These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to provide guidance on these roles, aiming to enhance support services for victims of crime. The regulations have a staggered implementation, with most provisions coming into force on May 9th, 2025, and one specific regulation effective February 2nd, 2026.
The legislation clarifies the responsibilities of these support roles, drawing existing legal definitions from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025 bring into force several provisions of the 2024 Act.
These include amendments to the power to alter release on license criteria for specific prisoners, changes to offences relevant to public protection decisions, and the introduction of mandatory guidance for defined victim support roles.
The regulations stipulate different commencement dates for these provisions, ranging from the day after their making to May and June 2025.
The regulations apply to England and Wales, and the Explanatory Note confirms no significant impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.
The Online Safety (CSEA Content Reporting by Regulated User-to-User Service Providers) Regulations 2025
These regulations mandate that UK online service providers of regulated user-to-user services report child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSEA) content to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Providers must register with the NCA, designating an organisation administrator and potentially an authorised person for reporting.
The regulations specify the information to be included in reports, their formatting, submission methods (API or manual), and urgency levels based upon risk assessment.
Data retention requirements for both CSEA content and associated user data are also outlined.
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective November 3rd, 2025, implement parts of the Online Safety Act 2023 in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
They mandate that providers of regulated user-to-user services report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) content to the National Crime Agency (NCA), establishing related offenses and outlining reporting processes.
The regulations also specify the commencement date for several other Act provisions related to CSEA reporting, information offences, and transparency reports, all within the context of regulated user-to-user services.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Amendment) (Provision of Information) Order 2025
This Order amends the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 to allow the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to share barred list information with several non-territorial police forces within the UK and those in the Crown Dependencies.
The amendment adds these forces to the list of recipients in section 50A(3) of the Act, improving information sharing to better safeguard vulnerable groups and enhance national security.
The Order received parliamentary approval and extends to England and Wales, coming into force the day after its enactment.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025
These regulations implement a pilot program for Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in specified areas of England and Wales.
This part establishes domestic abuse protection notices and orders.
The pilot runs from March 11th to November 26th, 2025, in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees.
Provisions are made to ensure ongoing legal effect for cases initiated before the pilot's end, and the program is assessed with an impact assessment not considered necessary at this staged rollout.
The Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025
The Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025 establishes a control period from June 9th to July 13th, 2025, under the Football Spectators Act 1989, for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. This enables the use of summary measures to detain and refer individuals to court for banning orders, passport surrender requirements, and specific bail conditions.
The order applies to England and Wales.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 7 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective March 5th, 2025, extend a pilot program for the Domestic Abuse Act 2021's Part 3 (domestic abuse protection orders and notices) to the non-metropolitan county of Cleveland in England and Wales.
The pilot runs until November 26th, 2025, with provisions ensuring ongoing legal effect for cases initiated before the end of specified period.
The regulations explicitly define terms like ‘domestic abuse protection notice’ (DAPN) and ‘domestic abuse protection order’ (DAPO), clarifying their application within the program's framework.
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025
These regulations, made under the Online Safety Act 2023, define threshold conditions for categorizing online services as Category 1, 2A, or 2B. Category 1 applies to user-to-user services exceeding certain user numbers and using content recommender systems or offering content sharing functionalities.
Category 2A applies to search engines exceeding user number thresholds except those focusing exclusively on specified topics.
Category 2B covers user-to-user services with high user numbers supporting direct messaging functionalities.
The regulations stipulate how to calculate average monthly active UK users to determine category fit and came into force the day after enactment.
The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2025
The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2025, made under the Terrorism Act 2000, officially recognizes ‘Majeed Brigade’ as an alternative name for the proscribed organization ‘Baluchistan Liberation Army.’ This action aims to improve counter-terrorism efforts by closing legal loopholes and facilitating effective prosecution and monitoring of the group’s activities, regardless of the name used.
The order extends to the entire United Kingdom and took effect the day after parliamentary review.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Download Festival, Leicestershire) Regulations 2025
These regulations temporarily restrict unmanned aircraft flights within a one nautical mile radius of Donnington Park, Leicestershire, from 0500 UTC on June 10th to 2200 UTC on June 16th, 2025, during the Download Festival.
The restrictions, implemented at the request of Leicestershire Police for public safety reasons, allow exceptions for flights permitted by the police. The regulations are supported by the Air Navigation Order 2016.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2025
These regulations temporarily restrict flying within a three-nautical-mile radius of Stonehenge from 16:00 UTC on June 20th to 10:00 UTC on June 21st, 2025.
The restriction, made under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016, is in response to the anticipated large gathering for the Summer Solstice and aims to ensure public safety.
Exemptions exist for certain emergency services and aircraft operating with specific permissions.