Crime and Regulatory Roundup – July 2023

In the latest edition of Kennedys Crime and Regulatory Bulletin (CARB) the team looks at a number of interesting topics including the Health and Safety Executive’s continued focus on work related ill-health following the publication of its annual statistics, an update on the Online Safety Bill which continues to make its way through Parliament, and the impact of the sudden increase in prison population on the sentencing powers of the magistrates court.

This CARB is intended to provide a brief and interesting summary of some of the most talked about topics in the regulatory field. This latest edition follows the Teams’ Crime and Regulatory Law Seminar which took place on 25 May 2023 at Kennedys flagship new offices at Fenchurch Street, London.

In other recent news, and in case you may have missed it:

Following his visit to His Majesty's Prison Isis during his first week in post, newly appointed Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC announced that 13,000 new and improved body worn cameras are now available across public sector prisons. The announcement follows the government toughening prison sentences for assaults on emergency workers – including prison officers, by raising maximum sentences to 12 months in 2018 and again to up to two years, through last year’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
The Health & Safety Executive has launched a manufacturing inspection initiative focusing on respiratory risks from silica. The inspections, which started on Monday 3 July 2023, are checking that both employers and workers know the risks involved when dealing with respirable crystalline silica and that businesses have control measures in place to protect workers’ respiratory health.
Anglian Water has been fined £2.65 million after sewage was discharged into the North Sea. According to the Environment Agency, a catalogue of failures by the company to manage and monitor effluent at the Jaywick Water Recycling Centre in Essex led to sewage overflowing into the sea. It is the largest ever fine imposed for environmental offences in the region.
Martyn’s Law progresses as the government publishes draft legislation. The Government states the aim of the legislation is ‘to improve protective security and organisational preparedness at a wide range of public premises across the UK. The Bill now faces pre-legislative scrutiny by the Home Affairs Select Committee before it is formally introduced to Parliament.
Defra has commented on the continued coverage in the press regarding dangerous dogs. Defra has specifically referred to coverage in The Mirror as part of their ‘Time for Action on Dangerous Dogs’ campaign. The campaign calls for a ‘Jack Lis Law’, named in honour of the 10-year-old tragically killed by a dog. Defra commented that it is working in partnership with police forces and local authorities across England and Wales to ensure the full range of existing dog control powers are effectively applied, including delivering sessions to share best practice in preventive dog control enforcement.
Finally, a guide on what responsible persons need to do as a result of the changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 through the Building Safety Act 2022, due to come into force later this year has recently been issued by the Home Office.

We hope you enjoy the latest edition of the CARB and would ask that should you have any queries, or require any assistance you do not hesitate to contact a member of the team.

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