The anniversary of the King’s Speech has just passed, taking place last July. On the anniversary of the King’s Speech, Leader of the House Lucy Powell set out the real-life impacts of the Labour Government’s legislative programme.^[1] In headline terms, this parliamentary year has seen various developments, 21 Bills have achieved Royal Assent, and 24 more are progressing through Parliament so far. The government saw a number of challenges as parliament beckoned for a new ruling party in Labour. Of course, economic challenges took precedent, amidst a burgeoning cost of living crisis. However, it was evident that anti-social behaviour and wider community safety challenges was also firmly on the policy agenda, with the riots commencing from the shocking  actions in Southport.

With Resolve is now in it’s 30^th year, we have observed and hurried along various changes to the sector, being at the forefront of the anti-social behaviour and continually aiming to be a centre for excellence. The general election of last year, and the following parliamentary tenure saw a slew of policy developments that signalled to the sector one of the biggest changes to the sector since the introduction of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Looking at the policy developments since the King’s Speech 2024, we will chronicle and highlight the main focuses of both our organisation, and by extension, the sector as a whole.

What was promised in the King’s Speech?

The King’s Speech is part of the State Opening of Parliament, delivered by the monarch, written by the government, setting out the government priorities for the coming parliamentary session. The government can introduce bills that were not included in the speech, so flexibility exists in the system. The King’s Speech included 40 bills, of which two were carried over from the previous parliamentary session. It is notable that this is the highest number of bills to appear in a King’s Speech since 2005, the second highest since 1997.^[2] Perhaps signally to the monumental and profound challenges facing the country.

In regard to legislation that has been picked up from the last parliament, two bills have been carried over from the previous parliament. Both the Holocaust Memorial bill and High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill has been carried over.

There was a slew of bills in the speech that were introduced by the previous government but not completed before the election, the bills were started from scratch, with content changed in order to reflect the changing government’s priorities, these include:

Football Governance Bill – A bill to establish an independent football regulator.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill – A bill to ban smoking for those born after 2008 and prevent the availability of vapes for children.

Renters' Rights Bill – a bill to reform the rental market, including abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions.

Arbitration Bill – A bill to reform the laws on arbitration in England and Wales.

The King’s speech reiterated that this government would be one that is ‘mission-led’, centred around Labour’s five missions. Labour’s missions for government are: Economic stability and growth, Great British Energy and clean energy superpower, Secure borders, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and take back our streets, Health and breaking down the barriers to opportunity.

The King’s speech included many bills have implications for the sector and for ASB as a whole. We of course, have written and participated in the development of these, including the Crime and Policing Bill, Renter’s Rights Bill, Tobacco and Vapes Bill, Mental Health Bill. These bills look to change the landscape for social housing, local authorities and anti-social behaviour in general. Of course, some of the headline provisions from these Bills are respectively, Respect Orders, the abolition of section 21, the phasing out of tobacco products for those who are 14, and the modernisation of our mental health system. More information on these bills or any other policy related inquiry is available on our website.

Renters’ Rights Bill

The Renters’ Rights Bill looks to be the biggest change to the housing sector since the 1988 Housing Act, and with big changes, often come anxiety. We hear from members routinely about how the Renters’ Rights Bill looks to affect their service. With its aim in reforming the private rented sector, the Bill seeks to deliver changes that aim to make the private rented sector (PRS) more equitable as a result of major unrest surrounding rent increases and poor conditions. The bill has undergone significant scrutiny and headline changes, recently, debates include those surrounding pet related insurance concerns, and the separation of social housing tenants for consideration of some of the provisions included. The bill has moved swiftly, and now looks to pass imminently, clearing the lords soon before going to a consideration of amendments, where it may ‘ping pong’ before the commons, before gaining royal assent, and thus becoming law.

As we are all unfortunately aware, there are severe and chronic court backlogs, official data from the government shows that by the end of September 2021, there were 73,105 outstanding cases.^[3] These chronic backlogs cause ripple effects for all who use aspects of the tools and powers and deeply effect the effectiveness of possession grounds. This means that any legislation that deals with the courts in this manner has seemingly less teeth and is more delayed in its application.

In written evidenced submitted by the Law Society to The Renters’ Rights Public Bill Committee, they have referenced the significant pressure that courts and tribunals are under. They remarked that the legislation may ‘lead to more contested hearings, at least in the short term, as landlords will be required to prove fault or show good reason when evicting tenants. They further add that they have ‘concerns as to how courts would be able to cope with such demand’. It is therefore a concern that the upcoming reforms, without immediate investment or reform to the court system, will only worsen the situation.

We will continue to support members with any concerns and will track the introduction of the powers and tools from the Renters’ Rights Bill as it is implemented.

Crime and Policing Bill

Born from the ashes of the conservative’s Criminal Justice Bill, the Crime and Policing Bill has a few notable differences and changes, its name itself notes in shift into a focus on institutions and specific ‘crime’. We have participated in the policy process for the Crime and Policing Bill  

We have been tracking some of the most notable inclusions into this Bill for some time, these include, for example, the notable announcement of respect orders in November of last year. This also follows an uplift in police funding following the December provisional settlement. As the economic challenges continue to beckon, and the Labour Government aims to prove its legislative competency in its first term, it will be a key showing in helping to restore much-needed confidence in neighbourhood policing, helping to rid town centres and high streets from what is often described as a ‘epidemic’ of anti-social behaviour. We welcome new legislative change to this landscape, and some of these proposed changes seem to be a push into the right direction.

The Crime and Policing Bill is steadily making its way through Parliament.  The wide-ranging bill, seeking to both enhance tools and powers from the anti-social behaviour, crime and policing act 2014, and implement new legislation, is currently undergoing significant scrutiny. The bill now currently sits in the Lords, at the second reading, once passed, it will move to the committee stage. The wide-ranging purposes of the Bill, as articulated by the government across the explanatory notes, press notice and overarching factsheet are to counter serious violence, violence against women and girls, and the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults; to protect the public from anti-social behaviour, retail crime and shop theft; to equip the police and others with powers to combat anti-social behaviour, knife crime and terrorism; and to rebuild public confidence in policing and the criminal justice system.

As a part of this scrutiny, there has been a debate in the houses of parliament among the Public Bill Committee, in which the Bill was scrutinised by various stakeholders. It is notable that various amendments have been proposed, but have since not been carried. This includes various aimed at the respect orders including: lowering the age to 16 at which a court can impose a respect order, if a court makes a respect order against a person more than once, then a fine is liable not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and that a respect order may have the effect of moving any application the respondent may have for social housing to the end of the waiting list. 

It is postitive that these amendments did not carry, and signal an approach that doesnt not criminalise young people and reinforces an objective of prevention and early intervention above all else. We signalled these positive aspects in our response to the Joint Committee of Human Right's investigation into the human rights implications of the provisions included in the Crime and Policing Bill.

For the official report on the debate so far click here.

Victims and Courts Bill

Born from the commitment announced in the King’s Speech last year, as the Victims, Courts, and Public Protection Bill, the Bill, among other things, aims to ‘help victims get the justice they deserve.’ It aims to do this, in part by ordering offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, strengthening the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner and provided other victim-centred provision. It is positive to see a continued focus on victims in policy; the Victims and Prisoners Act, which gained royal assent on the 24^th of May 2024, was one such piece of legislation, that established a ‘statutory definition of a victim of crime’, placing key principles of the Victims’ Code and introducing requirements for agencies to respond to recommendations of the Victims’ Commissioner and for the Commissioner to report annually to parliament. As another piece of victim-focused policy, the Victims and Courts Bill looks to help better facilitate and improve the experience of victims through widening powers and duties for the Victims’ Commissioner. It now currently sits at the Report stage in the House of Commons. It aims to:

1. create an express statutory power for judges to order offenders to attend their sentencing hearings so that these criminals have to face the consequences of their actions.
2. restrict parental responsibility for child sex offenders sentenced for four years or more for an offence against a child for whom they hold parental responsibility.
3. provide victims with certainty about the routes available to receive information about an offender while they are serving their sentence.
4. strengthen the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner
5. increase flexibility for the Director of Public Prosecutions in appointing Crown Prosecutors
6. set rates at which prosecutor costs in private prosecutions can be recovered from Central Funds
7. amend the time limit for the Attorney General to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it is unduly lenient.
8. amend Magistrates Court Sentencing Powers for six either-way offences^[1]

The Bill looks to bolster already crucial legislation that helps to improve the victims experience, foster better multi-agency working, and give victims the resolution they deserve. Practicalities of course must be considered, this includes, in the case of forcing people to at attend their hearing, that resources are adequately delivered to ensure compliance. This bill signals a major expansion into the Victims’ Commissioners duties and powers, changes the landscape of partnership working. We will therefore be working with relevant colleagues to ensure a swift, efficient and robust introduction of these powers.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill 

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to make policy provisions around the supply of tobacco, vapes, and other products, has been steadily making its way through Parliament, going through the House of Commons to now, the House of Lords. Both the first and second readings of the Bill have passed, and it now sits awaiting an announcement for the Committee stage, where will be certainly interested in helping to influence this piece of legislation. The headline objective of the Bill is to ‘create the first smoke-free generation so children turning 15 this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco’. The Bill would also:

• introduce a generational ban on the sale of tobacco across the UK:
  • The bill would make it an offence to sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. This would replace the current age of sale restriction of 18 years for these products.
• strengthen and expand smoke-free legislation across the UK:
• introduce new restrictions on oral tobacco products across the UK:
• provide the Secretary of State with powers to make regulations about tobacco products that would apply across the UK:

• extend the existing age of sale restriction, so that it covered non-nicotine vapes and a wider range of vaping products:
• prohibit the sale of vaping and nicotine products from vending machines in the UK.
• prohibit the free distribution, advertising, sponsorship and brand sharing of vaping and nicotine products to people of all ages.

• the provision of regulation-making powers to create a retailer licensing scheme for the sale of tobacco products, herbal smoking products, cigarette papers, vaping, and nicotine products.
• in Scotland, a strengthening of the existing retail register by expanding its scope to herbal smoking products and nicotine products.
• in England and Wales, the provision of enforcement authorities with the power to issue fixed penalty notices for offences related to the underage sale, proxy sale and free distribution of tobacco and vaping products (£200) and offences in connection with licensing (£2,500).^[4]

We have already responded to a call for evidence for this Bill, which can be found here. We welcome a large amount of the policy provisions within this Bill; ultimately, we champion education, prevention and partnership working, particularly around the renewals in trading standards.

Mental Health Bill 

Originating in the House of Lords, the Mental Health Bill aims to make provisions to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 in relation to mentally disordered persons. This Bill covers the main laws that are used when someone can be ‘detained’ (sectioned), in order to be treated for serious mental health condition. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated the act has “saved lives… but it is hugely outdated.’ In line with this statement, Labour have continually promised to update the Mental Health Act, which now stands at more than 40 years old; included as a focus in the parties manifesto ahead of the general election of the summer of 2024.

The Mental Health Bill has moved into the House of Commons, passing the committee stage, now at the report stage, which is yet to be announced.

A draft Bill was introduced and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee in 2022, which produced a report and a plethora of recommendations. The proposals within this were informed by the four key principles developed by the Independent Review and in partnership with people with lived experience of detention. This included choice and autonomy, namely involving patients in decision making, minimising restrictions on liberty, ensuring that patients receive effective and appropriate treatment and lastly, facilitating treatment that ensures patients are treated with dignity and respect, considering beliefs, values, past experiences, and wider needs.

Since the pre-legislative scrutiny, there was a commitment to tackling several of the recommendations made by the committee:

• Detention Criteria – ‘how soon’ The Bill takes forward the Committee’s recommendation that the proposed requirement for clinicians to consider ‘how soon’ a harm might occur should be removed from the detention criteria revisions that the Bill seeks to make.
• Nominated Person: The Committee supported the Nominated Person provisions but recommended that the Government work with Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) to revise the proposals to address practical concerns. The Bill removes the requirement for the AMHP to see the Nominated Person in person.
• Advanced Choice Documents: The Bill has been updated to take on board the Committee’s recommendations on Advance Choice Documents. The Bill therefore seeks to introduce duties on Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS England and Local Health Boards (Wales) to decide so that people at risk of detention are informed of their ability to make an Advance Choice Document, and (if they accept) supported to make one.
• Principles: In line with the Committee’s recommendation, the Bill amends section 118, which makes requirements for the Code of Practice, the statutory guidance which sits alongside the Act, to include the language of the four principles from the Independent Review. This will apply to both the Code of Practice for England, and the Code of Practice for Wales.
• Discharge: The Bill contains measures for a new requirement for a patient’s responsible clinician (or the responsible authority for the patient) to consult with a

Parliamentary recess and looking forward

The year since the King’s Speech and therefore, opening of the new parliament has been a busy one, and has been significant for the sector with a slew of changes and therefore, opportunities. We strive to be a centre of excellence, and therefore at the forefront of all relevant legislative developments. We have published and therefore participated in, a wide ranging amount of calls for evidence, which are available to be found here.

We are continuing work on policy developments and key provisions included within the bills. This includes the debate around Respect Orders located within the Crime and Policing Bill, debated by the Joint Committee of Human Rights by Rebecca Bryant, our CEO, and our commitment to helping the Victim’s Commissioner with the development of new powers and obligations as a result of the Victims and Courts Bill. As parliamentary recess quickly comes into view, it is important to reflect on the policy process of this parliament. The Renters’ Rights Bill looks to pass the house of lords imminently before a consideration of amendments and looks to be one of the key pieces of legislation that will pass soon.

We will of course, aim to keep members updated, as parliament goes to recess, it is a key time to reflect and plan key policy priorities. As a result, if you have any queries or questions on any policy-related issues, and how we can better represent you, please contact:

Harrison Box, Policy Officer

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

^[1] Green, Daniel. 2025. “Interview: Lucy Powell on the ‘Under-Appreciated’ King’s Speech, Labour Heroes and the Art of Political Gags – Labour List.” Labour List. July 17, 2025. https://labourlist.org/2025/07/lucy-powell-kings-speech-anniversary-labour-government-house-of-commons/.

^[2] Pannell, Jack. 2024. “What Was in the 2024 King’s Speech?” Institute for Government. July 17, 2024. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/2024-kings-speech.

^[3] Victims Commissioner. 2025. “Justice Delayed: Human Toll of Gruelling Crown Court Delays on Victims Revealed in New Victims’ Commissioner Report - Victims Commissioner.” Victims Commissioner. March 4, 2025. https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/news/justice-delayed-human-toll-of-gruelling-crown-court-delays-on-victims-revealed-in-new-victims-commissioner-report/.

^[4] Seely, Antony, Bukky Balogun, and Lorraine Conway. 2024. “Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-25.” House of Commons Library. November 26, 2024. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10150/.