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Crime Solicitors

Policing and Crime Bill receives Royal Assent (1 February 2017)

Date: 01/02/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Policing and Crime Bill receives Royal Assent

The Home Office has announced that the Policing and Crime Bill received Royal Assent on 31st January 2017. The government says the Policing and Crime Act 2017 will enhance the democratic accountability of police and fire and rescue services. Additionally it will improve the effectiveness of emergency services through closer collaboration and building public confidence in policing.

It will strengthen the protections for those under investigation by, or in contact with, the police and ensure that the police and other law enforcement agencies have the powers they need to prevent, detect and investigate crime. It has also strengthened the safeguarding measures and protocol surrounding sexual exploitation in order to protect children and young people.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

“This Act is another major milestone in our far-reaching police reforms over recent years.”

“The measures in the Act give greater protections for the vulnerable, ensure the police have the necessary powers to keep our communities safe – and overhaul the police complaints and disciplinary systems to increase accountability and improve police integrity.”

“We have also sought to ensure forces have the right people and skills to cope with the changing nature of crime, improving efficiency and effectiveness of our emergency services through greater collaboration – and end the injustice of individuals spending extended periods on pre-charge bail.”


The Act includes provisions which will reform pre-charge bail to put a stop to people remaining on bail for lengthy periods with no independent judicial scrutiny of its continued necessity.

It will also better enable chief officers to make the most efficient and effective use of their workforce, by giving them the flexibility to confer a wider range of powers on police staff and volunteers, while for the first time specifying a core list of powers that may only be exercised by warranted police officers.

The Act also confers a power on the Home Secretary to specify police ranks in regulations, to afford the flexibility to introduce a flatter rank structure. It places a new duty on police, fire and rescue and emergency ambulance services to collaborate where it is in the interests of their efficiency and therefore effectiveness.

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will take on responsibility for the governance of fire and rescue services where a local case is made.

Measure are being taken to improve the response to those in mental health crisis – including stopping those under 18 from being detained in a police station and restricting such detention for adults by reforming police powers under Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

The Act also reforms the police disciplinary and complaints systems, to ensure that the public have confidence in their ability to hold the police to account and ensure that police officers will uphold the highest standards of integrity.

The maximum sentence for stalking involving fear of violence will also increase from five to ten years’ imprisonment.

The Act amends the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), including ensuring that 17-year-olds who are detained in police custody are treated as children for all purposes, as well as facilitating the increased use of video link technology.

The firearms Acts will be amended to better protect the public, by closing loopholes that can be exploited by criminals and terrorists – and by issuing statutory guidance to ensure that the robust processes in place for assessing suitability to hold a firearms certificate are applied consistently.

The Act also confers pardons, subject to conditions, for individuals living or deceased who were convicted of now abolished gay sex offences. It also improves protection for victims of forced marriage and gives them more confidence to come forward by providing them with lifelong anonymity.

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a criminal charge, including serious organised crime, violent crime, sexual offences, terrorism charges, human trafficking and modern slavery charges, robbery, drugs offences, business crime and motoring offences.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can attend interviews under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on criminal charges, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.


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