Project status: Pre-project
In the 10th Programme, the Commission embarked on a programme of simplification of the criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure. Simplification involves: giving the law a clearer structure; using more modern terminology; making the law in a given area more consistent with other closely allied areas of law; making the law readily comprehensible to non lawyers … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report Download the summary The problem Kidnapping is an offence created by judges in the seventeenth century. There are generally 600 to 750 cases per year in which a person charged with kidnapping is brought before the courts. Many involve parents and children. The current definition is that kidnapping is an attack on … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report Download the consultation The problem Public nuisance is a common law offence involving environmental danger or loss of amenity or offensive public behaviour. The related common law offence of outraging public decency involves indecent actions or displays that may cause offence to members of the public. These two common law offences were … Read more >
Project status: Pre-project
The problem Hundreds of thousands of decisions are made annually under the Immigration Rules. Decisions which can be life changing for those seeking entry or leave to remain in the UK and their families. But the Rules are widely criticised for being long, complex, and difficult to use. On 1 May 2017, the Rules totalled … Read more >
Project status: Pre-project
The problem There has been much press coverage recently in relation to the use of “smart contracts”, particularly in the financial services world. By “smart contracts” we refer to the technology which runs on blockchain and by which legal contracts may be executed automatically, at least in part. The use of smart contracts to execute … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Repeals of various obsolete Acts.
Project status: Complete
Joint report with the Scottish Law Commission. Repeals included in this report Administration of Justice Agriculture Allotments and Smallholdings Aviation Defunct Bodies Ecclesiastical Education Employment Finance Local Government Pensions Property Public Health Road Traffic Scottish Acts Trade and Industry Miscellaneous
Project status: Complete
Joint report with the Scottish Law Commission. Repeals included in this report Armed Forces County Gaols East India Company London Police Rating Tax and Duties Town and Country Planning Turnpikes Miscellaneous
Project status: Complete
The Statute Law (Repeals) Bill, which originated in the 19th Statute Law Repeals report, became the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013 when it received Royal Assent on 31 January 2013. The Bill was introduced into Parliament on 10 October 2012 (details below). The Notes on the Bill and the text of the report are available at the links … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The 20th Statute Law Repeals Report recommends the repeal of more than 200 Acts. The Bill accompanying the report covers a wide range of topics from agriculture and churches to trade and industry and taxation. The earliest repeal is from the Statute of Marlborough 1267. Passed during the reign of Henry III, the Statute is one of … Read more >