Defence Legislation

Laws and policies relating to military operations, defense procurement, armed forces administration, and national security strategy.

The Ozone-Depleting Substances (Grant of Halon Derogations) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 8th Dec 25

The Ozone-Depleting Substances (Grant of Halon Derogations) Regulations 2025, made by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers, provide specific derogations from Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 concerning the phase-out date for using halon 1211 in portable fire extinguishers.

The regulations extend permissions for this substance in fire suppression systems for specified Defence aircraft until June 2027 for some models and December 2040 for others, and for Loganair aircraft until December 2026, based on the justification that no technically or economically feasible alternatives currently exist for these critical aviation applications.

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Purposes) Regulations 2025

Published: Thu 27th Nov 25

These Regulations, made under powers in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, prescribe a new purpose allowing a chief officer of police to disclose information to assist a person located outside the United Kingdom in assessing an individual's suitability for a role working with children.

The instrument cites the relevant empowering sections, states it applies to England and Wales, and sets a commencement date of 18th December 2025.

The Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2025

Published: Tue 25th Nov 25

The Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2025 primarily amend the Parole Board Rules 2019 to integrate definitions related to victims from the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, clarify delegation of functions, refine procedures for managing withheld evidence involving Special Advocates, establish new requirements for victim observation of hearings, and set out the process for referring release decisions to the High Court as enabled by recent legislation.

These rules govern how the Parole Board conducts its hearings and determinations concerning prisoner release and licence revocation in England and Wales.

The Data Protection Act 2018 (Qualifying Competent Authorities) Regulations 2025

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), specify which public bodies qualify as 'qualifying competent authorities' to engage in joint processing of personal data with intelligence services under Part 4 of the DPA, a power enabled by the Data (Use and Access) Act to assist in safeguarding national security; the instrument lists various government departments, police forces, customs, and judicial/monitoring bodies as qualifying authorities, citing consultation with the Information Commissioner and Parliamentary approval, and stipulates that the regulations come into force twenty-one days after being made and extend across the UK.

The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) (Revocation) Order 2025

Published: Mon 20th Oct 25

This Order, made by the Secretary of State under the Terrorism Act 2000, revokes the Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2017, effectively removing the designation that specified 'Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham' as another name for the proscribed organisation Al-Qa’ida across the United Kingdom.

The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025

These regulations implement revised codes of practice for examining officers under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000.

The Secretary of State revised the codes, published drafts for consultation, considered feedback, and laid the final versions before Parliament.

The updated codes govern the exercise of powers at UK ports and the Northern Ireland border related to combating terrorism and hostile state activity, aiming for better clarity, training, and adherence to legal frameworks.

The Aviation Security (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

The Aviation Security (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, effective October 31, 2025, amend existing UK aviation security legislation.

Specifically, the regulations remove Chapter 9 (airport supplies) from Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998.

These changes aim to streamline security processes, and a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the anticipated lack of significant consequences on any sector.

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites under Section 128) (Amendment) Order 2025

Published: Mon 8th Sept 25

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites under Section 128) (Amendment) Order 2025, effective September 29, 2025, amends the 2007 Order by adding Forest Lodge, Windsor Great Park to the list of sites protected under Section 128 of the 2005 Act.

This makes trespassing on the specified portion of Forest Lodge an offense.

The amendment involves updating article 2(1)(g) and adding article 2(17) and Schedule 16 to the 2007 Order, with a map delineating the protected area.