The Law Commission has launched a consultation on reforming homicide offences in England and Wales. It provisionally proposes replacing the current two-tier structure of murder and manslaughter with a three-tier framework comprising first-degree murder, for intentional killing and subject to the mandatory life sentence; second-degree murder, for intentional serious injury causing death and subject to a discretionary life sentence; and a reformed manslaughter offence consisting of reckless manslaughter, unlawful dangerous act manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter. It also proposes replacing the current verdict of voluntary manslaughter with a new verdict of murder with a partial defence, retaining the offence and defence of infanticide, and seeks views on potential new offences relating to deaths caused by unlawful drug supply, failures to seek medical assistance and domestic abuse leading to suicide. The consultation is the first stage of a wider review, with further consultations on homicide defences and the sentencing framework for murder to follow before final recommendations are made to government. The consultation closes on 30 September 2026.

The Law Commission has launched a consultation proposing reforms to the product liability regime under Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 in England and Wales. The proposals include expanding the definition of a 'product' to cover software, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, digital manufacturing files and features of online platforms. They would also broaden the definition of 'supply' to include digital delivery and free supply in commercial contexts. Potential liability would extend to additional parties, including online marketplaces, fulfilment service providers and UK authorised representatives, with clarification of liability following substantial product modifications. The Law Commission also proposes a clearer framework for assessing whether a product is defective, alongside a rebuttable presumption of defectiveness and risk-sharing mechanism for exceptional evidential difficulties. Further proposals address compensation for psychiatric harm, mixed-use property damage and destruction or corruption of data, alongside removal of the £275 property damage threshold. Existing defences would be retained and updated. The 10-year long-stop period would reset following substantial modification and would be extended to 25 years for latent personal injury claims. Final recommendations are expected in late 2027. The consultation closes on 14 January 2027.

The Law Commission has extended the deadline for responses to its criminal appeals consultation by 28 days, from 30 May to 27 June 2025. The extension follows requests from stakeholders and concerns about certain groups' ability to respond within the original time frame.

The Law Commission has published recommendations for a modernised framework governing contempt of court, aimed at addressing the challenges posed by online communications and digital media. The proposed reforms introduce four distinct categories of contempt, replacing the existing civil–criminal distinction. The new structure seeks to clarify the standards applicable to judicial conduct during trials, the enforcement of court orders, and instances involving disruptive or prejudicial publications during active proceedings—now defined as commencing from the time of charge.

The Law Commission of England and Wales has published its 14th Programme of Law Reform, introducing ten new projects alongside 17 ongoing ones, following extensive public consultation. Among the new initiatives, the Commission will review the law on consent in criminal law, aiming to resolve longstanding inconsistencies and conceptual uncertainty, particularly in offences against the person and sexual offences, where evolving social attitudes and judicial interpretations have led to unpredictability. The defence of insanity will also be examined, with the Commission seeking to modernise the outdated 1843 legal framework that is misaligned with contemporary psychiatric understanding and terminology, and which has led to underuse and confusion in practice.

The Law Commission of England and Wales has published its 14th Programme of Law Reform on 4 September 2025, announcing ten new projects spanning criminal, commercial, property and public law. The programme, developed following 500 consultation submissions, includes reforms to agricultural tenancies, commercial leasehold, consent in criminal law, deeds, insanity defence, corpse desecration, housing estate management, ownerless land, product liability and public sector automated decision-making. These projects will run alongside 17 existing initiatives, with the Commission aiming to modernise and simplify the law while ensuring it remains fair and cost-effective. The programme requires parliamentary approval before implementation, with project timelines to be announced.

The Law Commission has launched its 14th programme of law reform, introducing five projects focused on property and land, alongside five additional projects covering other areas of law. The property-related projects cover agricultural tenancies, commercial leasehold, deeds, management of housing estates and ownerless land. These areas were selected following approximately 500 consultation submissions, and the Law Commission confirmed that all projects have received government acknowledgment of reform intention. The new initiatives will run alongside 17 existing projects, with specific timelines for each project to be announced in due course. The programme aims to modernise property and land law frameworks across England and Wales.

The Law Commission has launched a call for evidence as part of its review of the law of homicide. The review seeks input on how the law functions and what reforms may be needed, particularly in light of developments since its last major review in the early 2000s. The review covers three areas: homicide offences (including manslaughter), defences and the murder sentencing framework. It addresses challenges including joint enterprise liability and domestic abuse considerations. The Commission invites submissions on how the law operates and what aspects should be considered, including academic research, legal materials and personal or professional experiences. Stakeholders can submit evidence by 31 October 2025.

The Law Commission has launched a consultation to bring the law on burial and cremation, which in parts is over 170 years old, up to date. Provisional proposals relate to the regulation of burial grounds; grave reuse and reclamation; closed and disused burial grounds, and exhumation; the rights granted to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; and cremation law. Views are sought from the public, experts in this area and those involved in the death care sector before the Law Commission gives its final recommendations at the end of 2025. The consultation closes on 9 January 2025.

The Law Commission has launched a consultation on the law on contempt of court. The Law Commission intends to seek views on a range of issues such as when criminal proceedings should be considered active, the powers of the Attorney General to grant or withhold consent to commencing contempt proceedings and whether the courts should be able to review these decisions by the Attorney General. The consultation aims to clarify and improve the fairness, consistency, coherence and effectiveness of contempt laws. The consultation closes on 8 November 2024.

The Law Commission has published extensive proposals to reform the criminal appeals system in England and Wales. Key recommendations include replacing the Criminal Cases Review Commission's (CCRC) ‘real possibility’ test with a more autonomous approach, introducing an independent inspectorate for the CCRC and lowering the burden of proof for compensation claims from 'beyond reasonable doubt' to 'balance of probabilities'. The consultation ends on 30 May 2025.

The Law Commission has published a consultation paper inviting views on a proposed regulatory framework for new funerary methods in England and Wales. Open until 4 September 2025, the consultation outlines proposals that include a licensing system and new criminal offences for unregulated funerary methods. The envisioned framework aims to pave the way for the future regulation of alternatives to burial, cremation, and burial at sea—which currently have no legal status. Key considerations include the preservation of human dignity and the implementation of safeguards against criminal conduct. Notably, the consultation does not endorse any specific funerary methods, as the selection of regulated options will be left for future government determination. The Ministry of Justice has expressed its support for the consultation and its objective of establishing a modern regulatory framework.