The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-04-03)

These Regulations bring into force specified provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21) (“the 2024 Act”). These are the fifth commencement regulations made under the 2024 Act.

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 441 (C. 18)

CRIMINAL LAW, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025

Made

2nd April 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 81 (\"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/21/section/81\")(2) (\"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/21/section/81\") of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (\"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/21\")(1 (\"#f00001\")).

Citation, extent and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

(3) In these Regulations, “the 2024 Act” means the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.

Provisions coming into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made

2. The following provisions of the 2024 Act come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made—

(a)Section 60(1) and (2) (amendment of power to change test for release on licence of certain prisoners);

(b)Schedule 2 (offences relevant to public protection decisions).

Provision coming into force on 9th May 2025

3. Section 16 (guidance about specified victim support roles) of the 2024 Act comes into force on 9th May 2025.

Provisions coming into force on 27th May 2025

4. The following provisions of the 2024 Act come into force on 27th May 2025—

(a)Section 75(3)(a) (whole life prisoners prohibited from forming a marriage);

(b)Section 76(7) (whole life prisoners prohibited from forming a civil partnership).

Shabana Mahmood

Secretary of State

Ministry of Justice

2nd April 2025

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force specified provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2024/21\") (“the 2024 Act”). These are the fifth commencement regulations made under the 2024 Act.

Regulation 2 brings into force provisions amending the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and the Criminal Justice Act 2023 in relation to public protection decisions about the release on licence of certain prisoners.

Regulation 3 brings into force provisions requiring guidance for specified victim support roles to be published.

Regulation 4 brings into force provisions amending the Marriage Act 1949 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 requiring notices of marriage and civil partnership to state if the detained person is serving a life sentence and, if so, whether they are subject to a whole life order.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Regulations

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 have been brought into force by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations:

Table 1

Provisions and commencement details

ProvisionDate of commencementS.I. No.Section 6817th June 20242024/755 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/755\")Section 75 (partially)2nd August 20242024/486 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/486\")Section 76 (partially)2nd August 20242024/486 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/486\")Section 34 (partially)18th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 36 (partially)18th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 3718th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 3818th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 3918th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 40 (partially)18th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 41 (partially)18th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 42 (partially)18th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 43 (partially)18th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 4418th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 4518th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 4718th September 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 66 (partially)1st November 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 671st November 20242024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 1 29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 2 (partially)29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 529th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 22 (partially)29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 23 (partially)29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 24 (partially)29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 25 (partially)29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 26 (partially)29th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 2729th January xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 66 (remainder)1st February 20252024/966 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/966\")Section 58 (partially)3rd February xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 59 (partially)3rd February xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 653rd February xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")Section 743rd February xx-xxxx-xxxx (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/95\")

(1)

2024 c. 21 (\"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/21\").