Project status: Pre-project
The problem As part of its response to Clare Wade KC’s Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review, the Government has asked the Law Commission to review the use of defences in domestic homicide cases. In 2004 the Law Commission made recommendations for reform of the partial defences to murder including provocation (now loss of control) and diminished … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
The Law Commission is seeking views on the law about appeals in criminal cases, including the tests applied by the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and laws governing post-trial retention and disclosure of evidence. Documents Download the issues paper here. Download the summary of the issues paper here. Download the Welsh … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
Documents Terms of reference The problem “Contempt of court” refers to a wide variety of conduct that may impede or interfere with a court case or the administration of justice. Examples include deliberately breaching a court order, refusing to answer the court’s questions if called as a witness, or releasing photographs or publicly commenting on … Read more >
Project status: Analysis of responses
Documents Download the consultation paper Download the summary of the consultation paper Download an overview of our key proposals Download the Easy Read summary of the consultation paper here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. The problem The Government’s End to End Rape Review found that the prevalence of rape and sexual violence has remained … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the summary of the options paper here. Download the full options paper here. Download the impact assessment here. View the press release here. The problem The general rule for attributing liability to companies in English and Welsh criminal law is the ‘identification principle’. This states that where a particular mental state is required, … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download a summary of the report here. Download the full report here. Read the interim response from the MoJ here. View the press release here. Our project The origins of this project are rooted in our Abusive and Offensive Online Communications Scoping Report which was published in November 2018. The purpose of that Report was … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report Download a summary of the report Download a Welsh summary of the report Download an Easy Read summary of the report The Problem Hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are. Hate crime laws in England and Wales have developed in various phases over … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report Download the summary of the report Download the impact assessment Our project In 2018, the Home Office commissioned a Law Commission project with the objective of reforming Part 2 of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Our Consultation Paper considers how the existing statutory framework could be improved with the following objectives in … Read more >
Project status: Complete
View the Government’s response View the full report. View the summary of the full report. View the Welsh summary of the full report. The problem Money laundering is the process where criminals hide the origins of their illegally gained money. Money laundering is estimated to cost every household in the UK £255 a year and … Read more >
Project status: Complete
View the full report. View the summary of the report. View a Welsh version of the summary of the report. The problem A search warrant is a written authorisation that allows an investigator to enter premises to search for material or individuals. Search warrants are usually issued by a court following an application by a … Read more >