Legislative Consent: Criminal Justice Bill

The Criminal Justice Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 November 2023.

The long title to the Bill notes that it is “A Bill To amend the criminal law; to make provision about criminal justice (including the powers and duties of the police) and about dealing with offenders; to make provision about confiscation and the use of monies in suspended accounts; to make other provision about the prevention and detection of crime and disorder; to make provision about begging, rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour; to make provision about the police; and for connected purposes.”

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls within the competence of the Senedd.

On 22 May 2024 it was announced that a UK General Election would take place on 4 July 2024. The Criminal Justice Bill failed to complete its passage through UK Parliament before the prorogue of Parliament on 24 May 2024 and its dissolution on 30 May 2024. This means the Bill will make no further progress and the Senedd’s consent process is no longer engaged.

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum – April 2024

The Welsh Government laid a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF146KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 2 April 2024.

The Business Committee referred the SLCM to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 7 June 2024 (PDF 37KB)

Legislative Consent Memorandum – January 2024

On 29 January 2024 the Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF 214KB).

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 22 March 2024 (PDF 27KB)

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 195KB) on 21 March 2024. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 210KB) to the report on 7 May 2024.