Crime and Policing Bill

Human Rights (Joint Committee) Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Mar 2025 Closed: 13 May 2026 Parliament page
The Joint Committee on Human Rights is conducting legislative scrutiny of the Crime and Policing Bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards. The Government’s stated purpose for the Bill is to support its mission to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls in … Read more
6 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
Activity timeline 2 events
10 Nov
2025
Report published
14 Jul
2025
Report published
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny: Crime and Policing Bill HC 830 14 Jul 2025 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
25 results
1 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We recognise that anti-social behaviour can blight communities, with the most serious and persistent cases...
We recognise that anti-social behaviour can blight communities, with the most serious and persistent cases undermining well-being, causing intimidation and distress and preventing the full expression and enjoyment of individual rights. We also recognise that those accused of anti-social behaviour, … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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2 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The broad definition of anti-social behaviour encompasses a wide range of unacceptable behaviour.
The broad definition of anti-social behaviour encompasses a wide range of unacceptable behaviour. While it may be well-established and understood by some authorities, its breadth and subjectivity allows for inconsistency in its application and risks sweeping up less serious matters … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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3 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
It is important that measures designed to tackle ASB work to protect victims and do...
It is important that measures designed to tackle ASB work to protect victims and do not unjustifiably affect the vulnerable. Respect orders would reintroduce criminal offence as a punishment for breach. It is not, however, clear why they would work … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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4 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Particularly given the emphasis witnesses placed on anti-social behaviour largely being carried out by adults,...
Particularly given the emphasis witnesses placed on anti-social behaviour largely being carried out by adults, we welcome the decision to exclude children from the scope of respect orders. However, the youth injunction 55 targeted at under 18s would simply replicate … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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5 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We also welcome a focus on rehabilitative requirements within respect orders, but note that such...
We also welcome a focus on rehabilitative requirements within respect orders, but note that such requirements are already available under existing measures. From evidence we have received it does not appear they have been used effectively to address anti-social behaviour. … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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6 Recommendation
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Measures designed to tackle anti-social behaviour affect the rights of victims and those accused of...
Measures designed to tackle anti-social behaviour affect the rights of victims and those accused of anti-social behaviour. To ensure these rights are properly protected it is important that the impact and efficacy of these measures are properly understood. We agree … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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7 Recommendation
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We welcome the fact that the Bill provides for more data on ASB and responses...
We welcome the fact that the Bill provides for more data on ASB and responses to it be shared with the Secretary of State. The Government should go further, however, and now comply with the Victims’ Commissioner’s request to carry … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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8 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The respect order resurrects the direct criminal consequences of the ASBO while retaining the lesser...
The respect order resurrects the direct criminal consequences of the ASBO while retaining the lesser procedural protections of the anti-social behaviour injunction. While it is important that anti-social behaviour is addressed, this should not come at the cost of procedural … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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9 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Taking into account the proceedings as a whole, we have concerns about their compliance with...
Taking into account the proceedings as a whole, we have concerns about their compliance with principles of procedural fairness and Article 6 ECHR (the right to a fair trial). This is particularly the case given that respect orders would be … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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10 Recommendation
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
As part of the review we have proposed into the use of respect orders and...
As part of the review we have proposed into the use of respect orders and their compliance with human rights standards, the Government should keep both the test for imposing a respect order and the standard of proof under careful … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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11 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Broad prohibitions and requirements can be imposed under Community Protection Notices, which bind individuals, and...
Broad prohibitions and requirements can be imposed under Community Protection Notices, which bind individuals, and under Public Spaces Protection Orders, which bind the general public. Their imposition receives limited scrutiny unless they are legally challenged. If their breach is punished … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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12 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
While deterring individuals from engaging in anti-social behaviour is obviously valuable, it is not clear...
While deterring individuals from engaging in anti-social behaviour is obviously valuable, it is not clear that an increase in the fines that can be imposed by way of FPN will have such an effect. Furthermore, the lack of oversight leaves … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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13 Recommendation
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Government should conduct an urgent review of the use of community protection notices and...
The Government should conduct an urgent review of the use of community protection notices and public spaces protection orders, and particularly the use of fixed penalty notices for breach, to determine their efficacy and whether they are being applied and … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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14 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
This is the third piece of primary legislation changing the law on public order on...
This is the third piece of primary legislation changing the law on public order on which the JCHR has reported in less than five years. Given the importance of free expression and free assembly to a healthy democracy, the Joint … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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15 Recommendation
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We recommend that the Government should conduct post-legislative review of the impact of this Bill,...
We recommend that the Government should conduct post-legislative review of the impact of this Bill, the Public Order Act 2023 and the public order elements of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 on the exercise of the right … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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16 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We agree that the police should be able to take action against individuals using masks...
We agree that the police should be able to take action against individuals using masks to intimidate others and to evade arrest. However, there may be legitimate reasons for actions that conceal identity at a protest. It is important that … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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17 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Under the Bill, the power to designate an area within which it would be a...
Under the Bill, the power to designate an area within which it would be a criminal offence to conceal one’s identity depends on the police having a reasonable belief that a public procession or assembly “which constitutes a protest” is … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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18 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
To improve accessibility and foreseeability, the Bill should be amended to include a definition of...
To improve accessibility and foreseeability, the Bill should be amended to include a definition of “protest” or alternatively the need for the procession or assembly to constitute a protest should be removed. Removing this requirement would, however, widen the reach … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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19 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We recognise that the wearing of masks at protests can be intimidating, and that concealing...
We recognise that the wearing of masks at protests can be intimidating, and that concealing identity can be used as a method of evading criminal responsibility. Nevertheless, the law must provide adequate protection against the unjustified criminalisation of peaceful protesters. … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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20 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
To achieve this, steps should be taken to provide additional safeguards for Convention rights: a.
To achieve this, steps should be taken to provide additional safeguards for Convention rights: a. The Bill should be amended so that the police can only designate an area within which it would be a criminal offence to conceal one’s … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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21 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We recognise that protests have the potential to intimidate and interfere with the right to...
We recognise that protests have the potential to intimidate and interfere with the right to manifest one’s religion through worship. However, the right to protest peacefully must also be respected. We agree with evidence we 58 received that it is … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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22 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
To help ensure the right balance is struck between the right to protest and the...
To help ensure the right balance is struck between the right to protest and the rights of people to worship without intimidation, the Bill should be amended so that the police can impose conditions when they reasonably believe that an … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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23 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We welcome the introduction of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, which represents an important...
We welcome the introduction of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, which represents an important step forward for protection of children’s human rights. However, we are concerned that the scope of the duty and particularly the consequences of breach may … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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24 Recommendation
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Government must keep under review the efficacy of the mandatory reporting duty once it...
The Government must keep under review the efficacy of the mandatory reporting duty once it is in place, with a view to expanding its scope if necessary. The Government should also reconsider the consequence of failing to comply with the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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25 Conclusion
5th Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We repeat our call for barriers to the exercise of universal jurisdiction to be removed,...
We repeat our call for barriers to the exercise of universal jurisdiction to be removed, and our proposed amendment to the Bill to achieve this appears in the Annex to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 167) 59
Ministry of Justice
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