Justice Legislation
Laws relating to criminal justice, court procedures, legal services, law enforcement, and judicial administration.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Permitted Disclosures) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended Section 17 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 to introduce permitted disclosures to the CICA and courts/tribunals for compensation claims, and expanded the definition of a qualified lawyer to include registered foreign lawyers.
These Regulations, made under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, amend the list of permitted disclosures that cannot be precluded by agreement, specifically allowing victims of crime to disclose information to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for compensation claims under relevant schemes and to courts or tribunals handling related proceedings.
Additionally, the regulations expand the definition of a 'qualified lawyer' within the Act to include registered foreign lawyers, ensuring victims can seek relevant legal advice regarding their victimization.
The Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025
The Order expanded the scope of practice for registered pharmacy technicians by legally enabling pharmacists to authorize them to conduct and supervise medicine-related tasks, introducing consequential amendments to medicine control regulations, and differentiating commencement timelines for various provisions.
This Order in Council amends several UK laws, including the Medicines Act 1968 and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, to expand the roles of registered pharmacy technicians by enabling pharmacists to authorize them to perform and supervise tasks related to the preparation, assembly, dispensing, and final supply of medicinal products.
The changes primarily apply to Great Britain initially and establish a framework of authorization, supervision, and professional accountability, including specific provisions for hospital aseptic facilities and controlled drug handling, while also introducing provisions for the delegation of final supply of checked and bagged medicines across the entire UK.
The Order brought into effect the Double Taxation Convention and Protocol between the UK and the Portuguese Republic to eliminate double taxation and enhance tax enforcement.
This Order formally enacts into UK law a new Convention and accompanying Protocol between the United Kingdom and the Portuguese Republic, signed in September 2025, designed to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax evasion and avoidance, and establish mechanisms for mutual assistance in tax enforcement, thereby clarifying taxing rights and providing legal certainty for residents and enterprises of both nations concerning income tax, corporation tax, and capital gains tax.
The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Peru) Order 2025
The UK and Peru enacted a Convention and Protocol to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax avoidance, and establish mechanisms for tax enforcement assistance.
This Order formally brings into force the Convention and accompanying Protocol between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Peru, which aims to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax evasion and avoidance, and establish mutual assistance mechanisms for international tax enforcement, setting out detailed rules for the allocation of taxing rights, definitions of residency and permanent establishment, and procedures for dispute resolution.
The Secretary of State established new 500-meter safety zones around two specified offshore installations and revoked safety zones established under four previous orders dating from 2007 and 2008.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2025 establishes new 500-meter maritime safety zones around two specific offshore installations identified in its Schedule, exercising powers granted by the Petroleum Act 1987 following recommendations from the Health and Safety Executive. Furthermore, the Order simultaneously amends and revokes safety zones previously established by four separate Orders from 2007 and 2008 concerning certain wells or structures, notably within the Chestnut Field and Kingfisher area.
The zones prohibit unauthorized entry by vessels, installations in transit, or submersible apparatus.
The regulations amended several customs regulations to update DCTS origin criteria, reclassified Vanuatu's trade status, adjusted regional cumulation groups, and revised version numbers for numerous supporting tariff and trade preference documents.
These Regulations, made by the Treasury and the Secretary of State under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, introduce various amendments to UK customs regulations, primarily focused on updating the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) origin rules and linked preferential arrangements, effective January 1, 2026.
Key changes involve differentiating origin rules for Enhanced Preference (EP) and Standard Preference (SP) countries, updating the criteria for 'economically vulnerable countries,' reclassifying Vanuatu from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to an 'other eligible developing country,' and updating the version numbers of several foundational customs reference documents.
The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2025
The Order amended the 2014 legislation to mandate that nationals or citizens of Nauru require a transit visa for travelling through the UK, effective December 10, 2025.
This Order, enacted under the powers of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, amends the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 to require nationals or citizens of Nauru to obtain a transit visa when passing through the United Kingdom while remaining airside. The legislation comes into force on December 10, 2025, and includes a transitional clause exempting those who arrived on or before January 20, 2026, provided they had a booking made before the Order’s enactment.
The Rules amended the Court Funds Rules 2011 to differentiate the management of sterling and foreign currency deposits, updated interest accrual rules, and simplified payment-out procedures under CPR rule 37.3.
These Rules amend the Court Funds Rules 2011 to provide enhanced detail on how the Accountant General manages and invests sterling deposits separately from foreign currency deposits held in court.
Key changes involve specifying when interest accrues daily (for sterling) versus under foreign account terms, outlining investment procedures for foreign currency based on court schedules or directions, and simplifying payment-out procedures under the Civil Procedure Rules.