The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has released its annual report, 'Responding to human rights judgments: 2023 to 2024', on 28 November 2024. This document elucidates the government's position on the implementation of human rights judgments from domestic courts, specifically declarations of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act 1998, and the European Court of Human Rights for the preceding year. The report also offers a concise overview of wider developments in the field of human rights. This publication serves as a crucial resource for legal practitioners seeking to understand the government's approach to human rights rulings and their practical implementation within the UK legal framework.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published Circular No. 2026/1 which outlines amendments to the Bail Act 1976 (BA 1976) by the Sentencing Act 2026 (SA 2026). These amendments, effective from 22 March 2026 and applicable to England and Wales, introduce three key changes aimed at reducing the prison remand population. The three main amendments to the BA 1976 include: (1) a change to the ‘no real prospect of custody’ test; (2) changes to the eligibility for electronic monitoring and (3) adding specific additional factors to the list of relevant factors that a court should consider when deciding whether to bail or remand a defendant.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published a consultation on the draft Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (JP(A) Regs 2024) which makes amendments to the Judicial Pensions (Fee-Paid Judges) Regulations 2017 (FPJPS regs), the Judicial Pensions Regulations 2015, the Judicial Pensions Regulations 2022 (JPS22 regs) and the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (Judicial Offices) Order 2015 (the Judicial Offices Order).

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Judicial Office have published a joint consultation, seeking views on proposals to replace Local Justice Areas (LJAs) in magistrates' courts administration. The consultation, which runs until 23 June 2025, follows the LJAs' abolition under the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 and aims to establish new operational structures for magistrates' courts.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published the outcome of the consultation on the Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which ran from 19 February to 14 April 2024. The consultation sought feedback on proposed changes to the FPJPS regulations, the JPS15 regulations, the JPS22 regulations and the Judicial Offices Order. In total, six responses were received which requested more detail on the technical aspects of the amendments. This outcome summarises those comments and outlines the changes made.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as published the annual data on deaths and inquests reported to coroners in England and Wales for 2023. The statistics report that 195,000 deaths were reported to the coroners in 2023, down 6% compared to 2022 and the lowest level since 1995.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published draft guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, SI 1975/1023. The guidance is for informative purposes only and will be replaced when legislative changes come into force around 28 November 2020. The guidance provides an overview of the legislation, considering matters such as the difference between spent and unspent convictions, how long before different kinds of conviction are considered to be spent, which convictions must be declared when applying for jobs or insurance and which spent cautions or convictions must still be declared.

The Ministry of Justice has published a new factsheet (CFO 401) detailing the process of applying for payment out of a fund held by the Court Funds Office following the death of a Court of Protection client. The framework, which applies to England and Wales, outlines the specific form to be completed, the necessary supporting documentation, and the procedure for applying for payment of inheritance tax and funeral expenses.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published guidance on amendments to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, effective from 1 October 2025 in England and Wales. The legislation renders NDAs unenforceable if they restrict victims of crime from making ‘permitted disclosures,’ such as reporting offences, seeking legal advice, accessing regulated professional support or victim services, cooperating with regulators, obtaining authorised representation, or receiving assistance from close family members, provided these disclosures pertain solely to the relevant criminal conduct and are not intended for public dissemination. Existing protections under common law, the Official Secrets Act 1989, and whistleblowing provisions remain applicable to NDAs signed before 1 October 2025. Businesses are advised to update policies and NDA templates to align with the new requirements. Additionally, from 1 August 2025, higher education institutions are prohibited from using NDAs in cases involving harassment, abuse, or misconduct complaints by students, staff, members, or visiting speakers.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published guidance on what constitutes a minor psychological injury following requests for additional clarity following the implementation of the whiplash reforms. Minor psychological injury is not defined in legislation and its application in relation to whiplash injuries stems from case law. The following is not legal advice, and should not be considered as such, but it is intended to provide greater clarity. In general, a minor psychological injury, under the whiplash tariff is one which: (1) is suffered on the same occasion as the physical whiplash injury, (2) is secondary in significance to the physical whiplash injury, and (3) falls short of being diagnosed as a specific phobia or diagnosable psychological disorder.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published a letter, outlining the proposed timelines for implementing the duty to collaborate under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (VPA 2024). Once implemented, this duty will introduce new responsibilities for Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, and integrated care boards, requiring them to collaborate in commissioning community support services in England for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and serious violence. Implementation is subject to the Spending Review and internal departmental allocations process, with the MoJ noting that the duty could commence from Spring 2026. The MoJ also intends to launch a consultation in early 2025, enabling stakeholders to comment and contribute to the development of the guidance.

The Minister of Justice (MoJ) has published the minutes from the Personal Injury Discount Rate (PIDR) expert panel meetings. The meeting minutes for 11 June 2024, 8 July 2024 and 15 July 2024 were published.