Justice Legislation
Laws relating to criminal justice, court procedures, legal services, law enforcement, and judicial administration.
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 Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective May 31st, 2025, amend the 2021 regulations governing compensation for whiplash injuries from road traffic accidents in England and Wales.
The amendments introduce two new tables specifying increased damage amounts based on injury duration.
Table 1 applies to cases arising before May 31st, 2025, and Table 2 applies to those arising on or after that date.
The changes reflect adjustments to damage amounts, likely linked to inflation, and were approved by Parliament.
This order temporarily bans heavy goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on specified sections of the M48 Severn Bridge, effective May 27th, 2025, for up to 18 months.
The ban addresses the potential for public danger and significant road damage.
Exemptions are in place for emergency vehicles and those with police permission.
The order is based on the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, with consideration given to alternative routes.
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend the 1999 Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations.
Specifically, they revise the rules concerning the types of zero-emission vehicles that can be driven under certain licence categories in Great Britain.
The changes primarily relax restrictions on the maximum authorized mass of zero-emission vehicles that category B licence holders (standard car licence) can operate, allowing for larger vehicles and trailer combinations, with some stipulations on age and experience in certain cases.
The regulations also address the age restrictions for driving some medium-sized goods vehicles specified within the updated regulations, setting a single legal age of 17.
This legislation revokes and replaces previous regulations largely based on assimilated EU law.
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 Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order modifies the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 to extend whistleblower protection to individuals disclosing information about sanctions-related activities undertaken by the Secretaries of State for Business and Trade, Transport, and the Treasury.
This expansion ensures greater accountability and transparency within the government's sanctions regime.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025 (Commencement) Regulations 2025
These regulations set the commencement dates for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025.
Key provisions, including the transfer of the Institute's property, rights, and liabilities to the Secretary of State, come into effect the day after the regulations are made.
Further provisions, including the transfer of functions and the abolition of the Institute, take effect on June 1st, 2025, at 2:00 a.m.
The regulations aim to streamline governance and clarify responsibilities, but potential negative consequences such as increased bureaucracy or disruption to existing structures are possible.
The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025
The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025 corrects an error in the 2017 order.
It removes the phrase “not exceeding the statutory maximum” from articles 12(2), 14(2), and 15(2), thereby removing the upper limit on fines for non-compliance with regulations concerning navigation safety and lighting.
This change reflects the removal of such limits in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
The order applies to England and Wales and took effect on June 10, 2025.