The regulations amended civil and criminal legal aid procedures in England and Wales, removing contribution requirements and streamlining processes for legal aid access.

The Criminal and Civil Legal Aid (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective June 27, 2025, amend existing regulations concerning civil and criminal legal aid in England and Wales.

Key changes include the removal of contribution requirements for individuals qualifying for legal aid, streamlining procedural aspects related to certificate issuance, determination withdrawal, and review processes.

Transitional provisions ensure the regulations apply to ongoing cases, including waivers for past contributions in certain circumstances, and adjustments to application processing timelines.

These amendments aim to simplify legal aid systems and broaden access to justice.

The 2025 regulations amended the 2011 and 2012 regulations concerning local authority referendums and mayoral elections in England, adjusting the timelines for referendums and subsequent mayoral elections.

These regulations amend existing legislation governing local authority referendums and mayoral elections in England.

The key changes postpone referendums and subsequent mayoral elections, if the petition or resolution falls between July 16, 2025, and the day before the 2026 ordinary election, until after the 2026 election, ensuring better alignment with regular election cycles.

This aims to enhance efficiency, reduce conflict, and possibly increase voter turnout.

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2025 brought into force specific sections of the 2024 Act, concerning victim impact statements, major incident advocacy, and information sharing, commencing June 25, 2025.

These regulations, effective June 25, 2025, implement several sections of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.

Key provisions include allowing victims of certain crimes to submit impact statements at mental health tribunals and appointing a standing advocate for victims of major incidents.

The regulations also clarify information-sharing practices and data protection concerns related to these processes.

These provisions represent the seventh set of commencement regulations under the 2024 Act.

The Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 sections 18 and 21, concerning notice reviews and telecommunications service change notifications, were brought into effect on June 20th, 2025.

These regulations, effective June 20, 2025, activate sections 18 and 21 of the Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024.

Section 18 establishes a Secretary of State review process for notices, while Section 21 requires notification of changes to telecommunications services.

The regulations apply across the UK. Previous commencement regulations have already brought other parts of the Act into force.

The 2025 regulations prevented English local housing authorities from using local connection criteria when allocating housing to victims of domestic abuse and care leavers.

These regulations, effective July 10, 2025, prohibit English local housing authorities from using local connection criteria when allocating housing to victims of domestic abuse and care leavers.

The regulations define 'domestic abuse' according to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and specify 'eligible', 'relevant', and 'former relevant children' by referencing the Children Act 1989.

The aim is to improve housing access for these vulnerable groups.

The 2025 regulations amended several UK sanctions regulations to add exceptions allowing payment of Treasury debt to UN-designated persons under specific conditions.

The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Treasury Debt) Regulations 2025 amend existing UK sanctions regulations concerning South Sudan, Central African Republic, Yemen, and Libya.

These amendments introduce exceptions to asset freezes and fund prohibitions imposed on UN-designated persons, allowing for the payment of Treasury debt owed to these individuals, provided certain conditions are met concerning the origin of the debt and the transfer of funds to a specified account.

The aim is to balance sanctions enforcement with the UK's financial obligations.

Sections 194 and 195 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, regarding SLAPPs, were brought into force.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025 bring into effect sections 194 and 195 of the Act on June 18, 2025.

These sections address strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs) by requiring the Lord Chancellor to create Civil Procedure Rules enabling courts to dismiss SLAPP claims before trial and to make specific cost orders.

The regulations aim to deter SLAPPs, protecting free speech and streamlining legal processes.

The 2025 Order designated Customs Site No. 2 Thames as a free zone, appointed a responsible authority, and imposed conditions for its operation.

The Free Zone (Customs Site No. 2 Thames) Designation Order 2025 designates a specific area at the Thames Freeport as a free zone for a 10-year period.

Cosco Shipping Crystal Logistics (UK) Company Limited was appointed as the responsible authority, subject to conditions encompassing record-keeping, security, access for HMRC officers, and health and safety.

The order leverages existing legislation to establish the free zone and aims to benefit trade and economic growth within the designated area.