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).

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)(“ 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: