Defence Legislation
Laws and policies relating to military operations, defense procurement, armed forces administration, and national security strategy.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Purposes) Regulations 2025
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
The Regulations prescribed a new purpose under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, allowing police disclosure of information to aid suitability assessments for child-facing roles outside the UK.
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
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Criminal Justice Act 2003
The Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2025 amended the Parole Board Rules 2019 to define 'victim', delegate specific functions, establish new rules for victim observation, detail Special Advocate functions regarding withheld material, and set procedures for High Court referrals.
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
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Data Protection Act 2018
The Regulations specified the public bodies now recognized as 'qualifying competent authorities' permitted to engage in joint, national security-related personal data processing with UK intelligence services under the Data Protection Act 2018.
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
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Terrorism Act 2000
The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2017, which listed 'Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham' as a name for Al-Qa’ida, was revoked to remove that specific name association.
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
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, Terrorism Act 2000
Revised codes of practice for port examination officers were implemented under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000.
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
- Department: Department for Transport
The regulations amended UK aviation security legislation by removing requirements for airport supplies.
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
- Department: Home Office
- Made under: Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
The 2025 Order amended the 2007 Order to designate Forest Lodge, Windsor Great Park as a protected site under Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
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.
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority (Borrowing Limit) (Amendment) Order 2025
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Act 2004
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority's borrowing limit was increased from £10 million to £30 million.
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority (Borrowing Limit) (Amendment) Order 2025, effective September 18, 2025, amends the Energy Act 2004.
It raises the CNPA's borrowing limit from £10 million to £30 million, enabling the authority to adequately fund its responsibilities for protecting civil nuclear sites and materials in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The amendment was approved by the Treasury.