The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that the Honourable Mr Justice Swift has been appointed as Deputy Chair of the Boundary Commission for England (BCE), from 16 February 2024 to 15 February 2027.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that His Majesty The King, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, has approved the appointment of six Commissioners to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). Christopher Bones, Anthony Harnden and Clare McGlynn have been appointed as lay Commissioners for a term of three years from 1 January 2024. Noel Arnold has been appointed as Judicial Commissioner for a term of three years from 1 January 2024 and Tanweer Ikram CBE DL has been appointed as a Judicial Commissioner for a term of three years from 14 December 2023. Lastly, Uchechi Igbokwe has been appointed as non-legally qualified Judicial Commissioner for a term of three years from 1 January 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced new legislation to prevent the abuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). MoJ has said that under new legislation, NDAs cannot be legally enforced if they prevent victims from reporting a crime, or discussing information related to criminal conduct with: the police; other prosecuting bodies; qualified and regulated lawyers; and, other support services such as counsellors, advocacy services or medical professionals. MoJ has said that the legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has issued a stakeholder alert confirming significant changes to medical reporting activities for road traffic accident claims, set to take effect from 6 April 2025. These changes include revised Medical Reporting Organisation Qualifying Criteria and Direct Medical Expert Rules, a modified MedCo 'offer' exclusively for represented claimants, and an approximate 25% increase to the MedCo Fixed Cost Medical Reports regime. Tracked change versions of the revised MRO QC and DME Rules have been made available, with further updates to the MedCo Qualifying Criteria Guidance Document and related audit guides expected to follow shortly. These modifications stem from the Government's response to the 'Revisions to the Medical Reporting Process for Road Traffic Accident Claims' consultation published in December 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a consultation on reforming the Law of Apologies, under the Compensation Act 2006, to encourage public institutions, private companies and their employees to make sincere apologies to those who have been wronged, without creating legal liability. The consultation is also seeking views specifically on how the Law of Apologies should apply in cases of child sexual abuse. The consultation closes on 3 June 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that, subject to parliamentary approval, 171 court and tribunal fees will increase from April 2025 to reflect Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes. The majority of fees will see a 3.2% increase, reflecting CPI changes between March 2023 and March 2024, while a small number of fees will increase by 13.5% to account for backdated inflation to March 2022. Additionally, 24 fees will be reduced to ensure they remain aligned with the latest estimate of their underlying cost. The Help with Fees remissions scheme remains available for those unable to afford court fees. These adjustments aim to support the efficient operation of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). The announcement includes a full list of the proposed fee changes, with the intention that they apply as from 1 April 2025 for applications received by courts or tribunals on or after that date.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a series of criminal court reforms aimed at addressing a Crown Court backlog of nearly 80,000 cases—a figure expected to reach 100,000 by 2028. Key measures include the establishment of 'Swift Courts', where cases with likely sentences of three years or less will be handled by judges alone. This approach is estimated to be 20% faster than traditional jury trials. In addition, judge-only trials will be introduced for technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences, while jury trials will remain available for the most serious offences, including rape, murder, aggravated burglary, blackmail, people trafficking, grievous bodily harm, and serious drug offences.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced new sentencing powers enabling judges to impose bans on offenders from attending pubs, concerts and sports matches. These measures form part of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at reducing crime and enhancing public safety. These measures include travel restrictions, driving limits, and confinement to designated zones, applicable to both community-sentenced individuals and those under Probation Service supervision following release from prison. Mandatory drug testing will be expanded to include offenders without prior substance misuse histories, with breaches of these conditions resulting in court action or imprisonment. The Probation Service will receive up to £700m additional funding by 2028-29. Staffing has increased, with a 7% rise in probation officers and a 15% increase in trainees over the past year, alongside a commitment to recruit 1,300 more officers. New technologies, including AI, will be deployed to reduce administrative burdens and improve supervision of high-risk offenders.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that from January 2026, parents and carers will be able to request enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for self-employed or personal workers such as tutors, carers and therapists. Currently, only organisations such as schools and hospitals can access enhanced checks, while individuals in private or self-employed roles have been limited to basic checks that show only unspent convictions. According to the MoJ, enhanced DBS checks provide wider information, including spent convictions and details of whether a person appears on the barred lists for working with children or vulnerable adults. The change follows a recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE and forms part of broader safeguarding reforms, which also include plans for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse and a review of support for victims.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has unveiled plans to reform the Probation Service, focusing on dangerous and prolific offenders. Key changes include recruiting 1,300 new probation officers by March 2026, implementing a targeted approach for medium and high-risk offenders, and revising the management of low-risk offenders. The MoJ will introduce new technology to streamline administrative tasks and prioritise Accredited Programmes for those at greatest risk of reoffending. These measures aim to address the current inadequacies in the probation system, as highlighted by recent inspections, and tackle the pressing issue of high reoffending rates, particularly among offenders without stable accommodation or employment.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that victims will be given free access to transcripts of judges' sentencing remarks in Crown Court cases, removing fees that previously ranged from around £40 to several hundred pounds. The measure follows a successful pilot scheme, which found that free access helped victims feel a stronger sense of justice and increased confidence in the justice system. The measure aligns with recommendations from the Leveson Review and forms part of the government's wider transparency and court modernisation agenda under the Plan for Change.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Courts & Tribunals Service have published a guide to help people access court hearings. The guide explains the different types of courts and tribunals, how to observe a court hearing, the areas of court that are open to the public and what can be expected inside the court. Additionally, the guide includes information on what to do before a hearing and how to access wi-fi in court buildings.