The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021-22 was introduced to the House on 9 March 2021. Second Reading took place on 15 and 16 March 2021. The Bill was considered by a Public Bill Committee over 20 sessions between 18 May – 24 June 2021. Report and third reading were on 5 July 2021.
The Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 14 September 2021. It completed its passage on 25 January 2022.
Full policy background to the Bill as introduced is available on the Library website: see Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2019-21: Background
Commons stages
The only changes to the Bill agreed by the Committee were the following minor/ technical Government amendments, which were agreed without division:
- Amendments 64 to 67 to clause 53 on prisoner custody officers to correct legislative cross-references.
- Amendment 132 to clause 109 regarding the mechanism to change Parole Board decisions where there has been an error.
- Transitional provisions regarding driving disqualifications (amendment 68).
- Amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 to clarify the disclosure period for certain orders made on conviction.
The Opposition unsuccessfully pushed divisions on whether Parts 3 and 4 (policing of protests/unauthorised encampments) and Part 7 (minimum sentences, release from prison and a power to refer offenders to the Parole Board) should stand part. They tabled a number of amendments to various other parts of the Bill and a collection of new clauses concerning violence against women and girls.
Lords stages
The Bill was subject to a wide range of Government and non-Government amendments, including on:
- minimum sentences for the manslaughter of emergency workers
- breastfeeding voyeurism
- hate crime
- domestic abuse
- restrictions on protests
- indeterminate sentences for public protection
- football banning orders
- serious crime reduction orders
- hare coursing
A full list of amendments is available on the Parliament website, together with Explanatory Notes and Government motions relating to Lords amendments. A summary of the Lords stages is available on the Parliament website.