The Renters Rights’ Bill, introduced in September 2024, proposes reform to the private rented sector. This briefing addresses the Bill in advance of its Second Reading in the House of Commons. JUSTICE welcomes many aspects of the legislation, including: However, JUSTICE considers improvement is required for the Bill to achieve its objectives and facilitate all […]
The King’s Speech
July 24, 2024
On Wednesday 24 July 2024, JUSTICE briefed House of Lords peers ahead of their debate on the new government’s legislative proposals concerning justice and home affairs set out in the King’s Speech. The briefing details JUSTICE’s comments and suggestions for the improvement of several of the proposed Bills. Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill JUSTICE […]
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
March 26, 2024
JUSTICE has briefed Parliament on several discrete issues within the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. Firstly, JUSTICE has briefed on automated decision-making. Clause 14 of the Bill repeals the right not to be subject to solely automated decision making and profiling, replacing it with more permissive provisions. JUSTICE does not consider the new provisions […]
Sentencing Bill
February 5, 2024
The Sentencing Bill, introduced in November 2023, proposes reforms to sentencing for certain offences. Its primary aim is said to be the protection of victims of violent offences. JUSTICE welcomes certain aspects of the legislation: However, JUSTICE’s briefing raises the following concerns: House of Commons Second Reading (December 2023)Read our briefing here.
Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill
January 9, 2024
In November 2023, the Supreme Court held in an unanimous decision that the Government’s previous Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding was unlawful for several reasons; most notably that it risked refoulement (asylum-seekers being directly/ indirectly returned to their home country before their asylum claim is properly considered) found in the Refugee Convention, Article 3 of the […]
Criminal Justice Bill
December 15, 2023
JUSTICE briefed MPs on the Criminal Justice Bill ahead of its second reading in the House of Commons. JUSTICE is concerned that the Bill, introduced on 14 November 2023, seeks to inappropriately treat legislation as a panacea for a range of socio-economic issues, rather than address their underlying causes. We consider that if enacted, the […]
Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill
December 8, 2023
JUSTICE, alongside the Immigration Lawyers Practitioners Association (‘ILPA’) and Freedom from Torture, briefed Parliamentarians on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill ahead of its Second Reading in the House of Commons. This follows the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in November 2023, which found the existing Rwanda policy unlawful for several reasons, including […]
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
November 17, 2023
On 25 September 2023, JUSTICE hosted a roundtable to discuss the recent Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Chaired by former JUSTICE Scotland Chair, Shelagh McCall KC, the roundtable was attended by practitioners, academics, victim support organisations, researchers and policymakers, including representatives from the Scottish Government. The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss […]
Victims and Prisoners Bill
May 15, 2023
Victims and witnesses of criminal conduct play pivotal roles in our criminal justice system. Their evidence enables the State to prosecute offences, seeking to prevent future harm to others and ensuring that the guilty receive a fair penalty. All too often, however, people affected by crime are left to navigate the complex and confusing criminal […]
Illegal Migration Bill
March 28, 2023
JUSTICE briefed Parliament on the Illegal Migration Bill ahead of its seconding reading and committee stages in the Commons. JUSTICE has significant concerns with this legislation which has been introduced with little consultation or scrutiny and has been subject to a very short Parliamentary timetable. The legislation has substantial implications for the UK’s asylum system […]