The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025 bring into effect sections 194 and 195 of the Act on June 18, 2025.

These sections address strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs) by requiring the Lord Chancellor to create Civil Procedure Rules enabling courts to dismiss SLAPP claims before trial and to make specific cost orders.

The regulations aim to deter SLAPPs, protecting free speech and streamlining legal processes.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.