Select committee: Justice Committee
Recommendation 32
4th Report - Covid-19 and the criminal law
Published 24 Sep 2021
Paragraph 90
Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Justice Committee Covid-19 and the criminal law All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
However, given the relatively small number of covid-19 cases and their public importance, we do not think that all covid-19 offences in the regulations should necessarily have been specified to allow the procedure to be used. The use of the single justice procedure to deal with covid-19 offences has been problematic in the wider context of public uncertainty over what was prohibited and what was allowed, Covid-19 and the criminal law 37 caused by the fast-changing nature of the covid-19 regulations. We also appreciate concerns expressed to us about the transparency of the single justice procedure. In a pandemic it is also important for the integrity of offences that justice is seen to be delivered in line with the principles of the rule of law.
From: Justice Committee, 4th Report - Covid-19 and the criminal law (HC 71), paragraph 90, 24 September 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 8 September 2022 (deadline 24 November 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government accepts or agrees with some recommendations, including on Ministry of Justice consultation over new offences, disagrees with others, and says it will draw on the public inquiry and existing review work for lessons on future pandemics.
- On new criminal offences, the government accepts that guidance should be updated so departments consult the Ministry of Justice as a matter of course. The guidance will also set standard response timeframes and cover urgent situations, with publication "in due course".
- On explanatory memoranda for statutory instruments, it considers a specific heading for new offences "disproportionate". It will instead update existing drafting guidance so the "Policy background" section explains any new offences.
- On the single justice procedure, the Ministry of Justice states it "does not agree" with the recommendations on transparency and on a formal review of its use in COVID-19 cases, citing existing media access arrangements and safeguards.
- On fixed penalty notices, it recognises that the regime "presented challenges for enforcement and compliance". It will take this into consideration, with the public inquiry's findings, in planning for future pandemics.