The Crime and Policing Bill

The Crime and Policing Bill introduces measures to address antisocial behaviour, violent and sexual offences, property crimes, and criminal exploitation. It seeks to strengthen the powers of police, border force, and other law enforcement agencies, as well as seeking to enhance confiscation and public order measures, and reforms terrorism and national security laws. It also includes provisions on corporate criminal liability and international crime agreements.

Where is the Bill up to?

The Bill was announced following the Labour Government coming to power with details bring provided in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024 when the new Government set out their legislative agenda for the years to come.

The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its first reading yesterday (Tuesday 25 February 2025). This stage takes place without any debate. MPs will next consider the Bill at Second Reading. The date for the second reading has not yet been announced.

What are the stages of new legislation being introduced

The process of a new law coming into effect begins with drafting and proposal, where a Bill is introduced by the government or an MP/Lord. It then goes through the First Reading, where it is formally introduced without debate, followed by the Second Reading, where MPs or Lords debate its principles and vote on whether it should proceed. At the Committee Stage, a committee examines the Bill in detail and suggests amendments, which are then reviewed during the Report Stage, allowing further changes. The Third Reading involves a final debate and vote before the Bill moves to the other House to undergo the same process. If amendments are made, the Bill returns to the original House for approval. Once both Houses agree on the final version, the Monarch grants Royal Assent, making it law. The legislation then comes into effect either immediately or on a specified date, sometimes requiring additional regulations for enforcement.

Summary of the Crime and Policing Bill Measures

The bill seeks to introduce stronger measures across multiple areas of criminal justice and public safety as well as seeking to enhance law enforcement powers and address emerging threats.

Tackling Antisocial Behaviour – Introduces Respect Orders, removes the requirement for police to issue warnings before seizing vehicles used antisocially, and strengthens existing enforcement powers, including fly-tipping regulation.

Tougher Action on Knife Crime – Grants police the power to seize and destroy bladed articles from private property, increases penalties for selling weapons to under-18s, and introduces a new offence of possessing a blade with intent to harm.

Protecting Retail Workers – Creates a new offence of assaulting retail workers and reverses a previous law that downgraded police response to low-value shop theft.

Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults – Criminalises child criminal exploitation and cuckooing while introducing new offences related to child abduction and exposure.

Tackling Child Sexual Abuse – Bans Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated indecent images, criminalises site moderators hosting such content, and grants Border Force powers to search digital devices for illicit material.

Implementing Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry Recommendations – Introduces a duty for professionals to report child abuse, strengthens background checks, and increases penalties for grooming.

Combating Violence Against Women & Girls – Criminalises the taking of intimate images, introduces a standalone spiking offence, enhances stalking protection orders, and grants victims the right to know their stalker’s identity.

Stronger Supervision of Offenders – Restricts registered sex offenders from changing their name and expands polygraph testing for serious offenders, including those convicted of sexual or terrorism-related crimes.

Serious Crime & Economic Crime – Bans electronic devices used in vehicle theft, strengthens corporate criminal liability laws, and enhances fraud enforcement, including bans on SIM farms and improved confiscation powers.

Public Order & Protest Laws – Criminalises wearing face coverings to conceal identity at protests, bans fireworks and flares, and introduces new offences for climbing war memorials.

Enhanced Police Powers – Grants police the right to search for electronically tracked stolen goods, improves access to DVLA records, and expands drug testing for suspects upon arrest.

Policing & Counter-Terrorism Reforms – Strengthens misconduct investigations, allows police chiefs to appeal disciplinary decisions, and introduces youth diversion orders to prevent radicalisation.
This bill aims to tackle crime more effectively, protect vulnerable individuals, and enhance police and judicial powers to respond to modern challenges.

Olliers Solicitors – specialist criminal defence lawyers

If you require advice in relation to any matter within the Crime and Policing Bill or indeed any criminal matter, please contact our new enquiry team either by email to info@olliers.com, by telephone at 020 3883 6790 (London) or 0161 834 1515 (Manchester) or by completing the form below and our new enquiry team will contact you.