Select Committee · Justice Committee

Covid-19 and the criminal law

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Mar 2021 Closed: 13 Sep 2023 21 recommendations 13 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry examines the way in which the Government has created new criminal offences to ensure people follow restrictions and lockdown, how the criminal law has been adapted to deal with the pandemic, and how covid-19 offences have been enforced, applied and reviewed by the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. Read the … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Covid-19 and the criminal law HC 71 24 Sep 2021 34 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
14 Recommendation 4th Report - Covid-19 and the criminal … Accepted in Part

To facilitate effective scrutiny of new criminal offences in statutory instruments, it would be helpful...

To facilitate effective scrutiny of new criminal offences in statutory instruments, it would be helpful if the Government would ensure that the accompanying explanatory memorandum should contain a specific section detailing any new offences, the reasons behind their creation, and the justification for the penalty applied. The memorandum should also … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the idea of a specific heading for new criminal offences in explanatory memoranda, deeming it disproportionate, but committed to updating guidance to ensure the 'Policy background' section clearly explains any new offences.
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Ministry of Justice

Correspondence

7 letters
DateDirectionTitle
28 Jun 2022 From cttee Letter to Dominic Raab MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, …
14 Jun 2022 To cttee Letter from Dominic Raab MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice…
8 Jun 2022 From cttee Letter to Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 25 May 2022…
22 Feb 2022 To cttee Letter from Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 7 Februar…
13 Jul 2021 Letter dated 24 June 2021 from Lord Wolfson QC, Parliamentary Under-Secretary o…
13 Jul 2021 Letter dated 4 May from Lord Wolfson QC, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State…
8 Jul 2021 Letter dated 30 June 2021 from Lord Wolfson QC, Parliamentary Under-Secretary o…

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
20 Apr 2021 Formal meeting · Virtual meeting