Law Reform Programme: 10th programme

Making the law fair for victims and defendants when a defendant can’t engage with the criminal process. We await a final government response.

Simplifying the old common law offences of public nuisance and outraging public decency.

Bringing how the law deals with kidnapping into the 21st century. We await a response from government.

Making provision in law for binding nuptial agreements and helping people understand the law on meeting an ex-spouse’s financial needs on the breakdown of a marriage. Guidance has been produced, and scoping work undertaken by the government but we await a final response.

We published a discussion paper on 23 July 2013 with our provisional proposals for reform of the defences of insanity and automatism, based on lack of capacity.