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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2025 No. 1325 (C. 71)
CRIMINAL LAW, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
(Commencement No. 9) Regulations 2025
Made - - - - 15th December 2025
Coming into force - - 31st December 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 81(2)
of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024(1).
Citation and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement
No. 9) Regulations 2025.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
Provisions coming into force on 31st December 2025
2. The following provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 come into force on 31st
December 2025—
(a) Section 23(3) (His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons);
(b) Section 24(3) (His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary);
(c) Section 25(3) (His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service);
(d) Section 26(3) (His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales);
(e) Section 61 (referral of release decisions: life prisoners);
(f) Section 62 (referral of release decisions: fixed-term prisoners);
(g) Section 63 (licence conditions of life prisoners released following referral);
(h) Section 64 (licence conditions of fixed-term prisoners released following referral).
(1) 2024 c. 21.Document Generated: 2025-12-31
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item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State
Levitt
Minister of State
15th December 2025 Ministry of Justice
2Document Generated: 2025-12-31
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force sections 23(3), 24(3), 25(3), 26(3) and sections 61 to 64 of
the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21) (“the 2024 Act”). These are the ninth commencement
regulations made under the 2024 Act.
Sections 23(3), 24(3), 25(3) and 26(3) of the 2024 Act make amendments in respect of joint
inspection programmes (inspection programmes delivered by 2 or more of HM Inspectorate of
Prisons, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, HM Crown Prosecution
Service Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Probation). The amendments empower the Secretary
of State, Lord Chancellor and Attorney General together to direct that provision is included within
such programmes for inspections, at specified times, of specified matters relating to the experiences
and treatment of victims.
Sections 61 and 62 amend the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (c. 43) (“the 1997 Act”) and the Criminal
Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) (“the 2003 Act”) in relation to life prisoners and fixed-term prisoners
respectively. The amendments make provision for the Secretary of State to direct the Parole Board
to refer certain release decisions it has made to the High Court. The High Court will then make a
fresh decision on whether the statutory release test has been met and either direct the Secretary of
State to give effect to the Parole Board’s release direction, or quash it. Sections 63 and 64 amend
the 1997 Act and the 2003 Act respectively to specify that the Secretary of State is responsible for
including licence conditions set by the High Court in a referral case. The provisions also confer the
power on the Secretary of State to subsequently vary or cancel those conditions.
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.
Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
Section 68 17th June 2024 2024/755
Section 75 (partially) 2nd August 2024 2024/846
Section 76 (partially) 2nd August 2024 2024/846
Section 34 (partially) 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 36 (partially) 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 37 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 38 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 39 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 40 (partially) 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 41 (partially) 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 42 (partially) 18th September 2024 2024/966
3Document Generated: 2025-12-31
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item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
Section 43 (partially) 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 44 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 45 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 47 18th September 2024 2024/966
Section 66 (partially) 1st November 2024 2024/966
Section 67 1st November 2024 2024/966
Section 1 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 2 (partially) 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 5 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 22 (partially) 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 23 (partially) 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 24 (partially) 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 25 (partially) 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 26 (partially) 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 27 29th January 2025 2025/95
Section 66 (remainder) 1st February 2025 2024/966
Section 58 (partially) 3rd February 2025 2025/95
Section 59 (partially) 3rd February 2025 2025/95
Section 65 3rd February 2025 2025/95
Section 74 3rd February 2025 2025/95
Section 60 (partially) 3rd April 2025 2025/441
Schedule 2 3rd April 2025 2025/441
Section 16 9th May 2025 2025/441
Section 75 (remainder) 27th May 2025 2025/441
Section 76 (remainder) 27th May 2025 2025/441
Section 17 (partially) 1st June 2025 2025/616
Section 17 (remainder) 1st October 2025 2025/616
Section 21 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 34 (remainder) 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 35 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 36 (remainder) 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 40 (remainder) 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 41 (remainder) 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 42 (remainder) 25th June 2025 2025/731
4Document Generated: 2025-12-31
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
Section 43 (remainder) 25th June 2025 2025/731
Section 20 (partially) 7th November 2025 2025/1168
Section 28 12th January 2026 2025/1168
Section 29 12th January 2026 2025/1168
Section 30 12th January 2026 2025/1168
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