Justice Legislation

Laws relating to criminal justice, court procedures, legal services, law enforcement, and judicial administration.

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 Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025

Published: Thu 27th Nov 25

The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, made by the Family Procedure Rule Committee under the Courts Act 2003, amend the existing Family Procedure Rules 2010 with changes taking effect across three dates in 2026; key amendments include removing an outdated cross-reference related to children’s guardians, clarifying the scope of confidentiality for personal details to the court, broadening who can have their details protected, and establishing a requirement that permission to appeal decisions made by lay justices or specified types of decisions must be sought directly from the appeal court.

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 Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2025

Published: Tue 25th Nov 25

The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2025, enacted by the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, bring into force amendments to Part 77 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, effective December 31, 2025.

These rules establish the specific civil procedure, including defining the parties and processes for evidence submission and service, to handle cases where the Secretary of State directs the High Court to review a Parole Board decision regarding a prisoner's release.

Furthermore, the amendments detail the application process for non-disclosure of sensitive material during these proceedings, including the appointment and duties of Special Advocates.

The Borough Council of Calderdale (Elland Station and West Vale Access Package) (West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, Transforming Cities Fund) (Calder and Hebble Navigation Bridge) Scheme 2022 Confirmation Instrument 2025

The Secretary of State for Transport confirms the Borough Council of Calderdale’s Scheme, enacted under the Highways Act 1980, which authorizes the construction of a multi-span bridge over the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

This bridge is a component of the Elland Station and West Vale Access Package, intended to provide essential pedestrian and cycle access to the proposed Elland Rail Station from the north bank, while ensuring navigational requirements of the waterway are met.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 24th Nov 25

These Regulations amend three previous Statutory Instruments to postpone the end date of the pilot commencement of Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021—which covers Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs)—from November 2025 to March 31, 2026, for specified areas in England and Wales.

Furthermore, the regulations revise the 'saving provisions' within the commencement instrument for Part 3 to detail precisely how ongoing legal proceedings related to DAPNs and DAPOs (including applications, appeals, and enforcement) will be handled after the pilot period ends, ensuring continuous protection measures are in place.

The National Health Service (Procurement, Slavery and Human Trafficking) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 24th Nov 25

These Regulations mandate that public bodies must assess the modern slavery risk associated with procuring goods or services for the health service in England, requiring them to take reasonable, proportionate steps to address or eliminate those risks during procurement design, contract management, and throughout the lifecycle of framework agreements and dynamic markets, with guidance to be issued by NHS England.

The Football Governance Act 2025 (Specified Competitions) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 24th Nov 25

These Regulations, made under the Football Governance Act 2025, officially designate the top five tiers of the men's English football pyramid—the Premier League, the Championship, League One, League Two, and the Premier Division of the National League—as 'specified competitions' to which the Act's provisions apply, effective from November 24, 2025, and extending to England and Wales.