Latest news on the Bill

Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 12 November.

The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

Summary of the Bill

This Bill draws together a number of disparate policy issues on policing and crime.

Key areas

• Introduces new provisions to improve police accountability and effectiveness (although the Government’s plans for directly elected police authorities, which provoked some controversy, have not been included in the Bill)
• Creates a new offence of paying for sex with someone who is controlled for gain and introduces new powers to close brothels
• Modifies the law on soliciting
• Tightens up the regulation of lap-dancing clubs by reclassifying them as ‘sex establishments’ rather than ‘entertainment’ venues
• Amends police powers to deal with young people drinking in public
• Introduces a new mandatory code of practice for alcohol sales
• Amends the criminal asset recovery scheme established under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
• Changes the arrangements for airport security and policing.

Stay up to date

Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament. Sign up for email alerts or use our RSS feeds.

• RSS feed for this Bill
• Receive email updates for this Bill

Related information

Guide to the passage of a Bill

Find out what happens at each stage of a Public Bill’s journey through Parliament with the Passage of a Bill guide.

When will the Bill become law?

What happens after the Bill has been passed? When does the law change?

Get involved: guidance on written submissions

Do you have expertise or a special interest in matters contained within a Government Bill? Submit your views to the Commons Public Bill Committee.