Mini Topic: Law Reform

The Law Commission has four main responsibilities:

• To systematically keep all English law under review
• To codify and consolidate areas of law
  • Brings together the law on one topic into one source of law.
  • On average, five Consolidation Bills are produced each year.
• To receive and consider proposals for law reform, and consult relevant parties.
• To propose areas for reform.

How does it perform the role?

• It researches a particular area
• Publishes a consultation paper that seeks views on the reform
  • This describes the current law, sets out the problems, and looks at reform.
• Draws up proposals for reform, and possibly a Draft Bill.
• Government decides whether to make the proposed reforms.

• Limited Success due to a lack of Parliamentary time
  • Removing the crime Blasphemy from the law was suggested in 1985 - but didn't happen until 2008.
• Has made some changes.
  • Law Reform (Year and a Day Rule) Act 1996 implemented changes to the law which before stated a person could not be convicted of murder if their victim died more than a year and a day after the attack.

In 2009

• The Law Commission carried out consultation on the admissibility of expert evidence in court.
• Produced a report and Draft Bill on the defence of 'intoxication' in criminal law.