The UK parliament is currently considering a massive overhaul of police powers, sentencing and criminal offences in a new criminal justice bill. The wide-ranging bill also addresses “nuisance” rough sleeping, police ethics and misconduct and antisocial behaviour, among other areas.
It follows the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which was passed in 2022 and increased police powers over protest, as well as for preventing and investigating serious violence. In introducing the new criminal justice bill, James Cleverly, the home secretary, has argued that as threats evolve, the law needs to be updated.
