Lords Tighten Crime Laws Amid Elections U-Turn
High-Level Summary
The House of Lords took oral questions on AI’s labour‑market impacts, cyclist safety, Chinese components and minerals in UK defence supply chains, and the detention and welfare of Imran Khan. Peers then completed the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill’s Third Reading and passed it. The first Report day on the Crime and Policing Bill saw defeats for attempts to tighten the respect‑order test, but agreement to require consultation on guidance; significant new provisions on fly‑tipping and a ban on “fining for profit”; and rejection of making waste crime an NCA statutory priority. A ministerial Statement explained reversing earlier plans to postpone some local elections during reorganisation, alongside added capacity funding. Report resumed with knife and crossbow online‑sale safeguards extended UK‑wide, a technical firearms change on sound moderators, a debate (unsuccessful) to keep sub‑£200 shop theft summary‑only, and strengthening of the child criminal exploitation clause.
Detailed Summary
AI and the Labour Market (Oral Question)
Lord Pitkeathley asked about expediting the AI Security Institute’s work on labour‑market threats. Lord Leong said the Government has launched an “AI and the Future of Work Unit, a cross-governmental initiative supported by the AI Security Institute,” which “monitors labour market impacts in real time”. Lord Pitkeathley urged stress‑testing for rapid displacement, citing “estimates of net employment losses of around 8%”. Lord Leong highlighted plans to equip “10 million workers with essential skills to develop and adopt AI” and said the unit would provide evidence to coordinate “a proactive national response”. Peers queried remit and engagement: Lord Clement‑Jones asked about expertise, consultation, and links to OECD/IMF/ILO work. Lord Leong replied the unit “serves as a government centre of expertise on how AI is changing jobs and work,” and that “The AI Security Institute is well placed to work with this unit”. On international cooperation, he cited the “New Delhi declaration on AI impact, endorsed by nearly 90 countries”. Further points covered values and “not working for algorithms” (Bishop of Oxford), regional tailoring (Baroness Jones of Whitchurch), and AI in recruitment. The Minister said, “We have published the Responsible AI in Recruitment guidance” and offered to meet. He later reaffirmed that the Government will “upskill 10 million people… [and] AI will be taught in schools”.
Cyclist Safety (Oral Question)
Lord Krebs asked which measures are most effective and cost‑effective. Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill said “well-designed infrastructure… can improve both safety and perceptions of safety for cyclists,” and that a new road safety strategy sets “an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured… by 65% by 2035”. On potholes, he cited support for innovation and said Oxfordshire trials include “graphene asphalt… to enhance the durability of road surfaces”. Peers discussed helmets/high‑vis (Viscount Hailsham), travel to school (Baroness Pidgeon), cyclist behaviour (Lord Boateng), and “floating bus stops” (Lord Holmes). The Minister said, “The Government recommend the use of helmets and high-visibility clothing”, pointed to “£626 million” for active travel, and reminded the House that enforcing road laws is “the business of chief police officers”. On floating bus stops, standards are being reviewed and the work “has not finished yet”.
Chinese components and rare earth reliance in UK military equipment (Oral Question)
Baroness Goldie asked about Chinese components and reliance on Chinese‑sourced minerals. Lord Lemos said the Government welcomes foreign trade but “will not compromise our national security… [and is] working at pace to diversify the UK critical mineral supply chain and reduce reliance on any single source”. He pointed to a critical minerals strategy, a UK‑US MoU, and MoD planning on stockpiles and recycling. On Chinese‑made cars at MoD sites, he said the focus is on “all vehicles,” that some defence organisations “may have stricter requirements,” and noted steps to replace Chinese‑manufactured surveillance equipment at sensitive sites. He highlighted allied cooperation, including that “The UK and the US signed an MoU on critical minerals in Washington DC on 4 February” and engagement with “NATO, Five Eyes, AUKUS, Canada and France”. On the defence investment plan’s timing, he said, “It’ll be along soon”.
Imran Khan: Imprisonment (Oral Question)
Baroness Alexander asked about discussions with Pakistan on the detention and medical care of former PM Imran Khan. Baroness Chapman said Pakistan’s judicial processes are a matter for Pakistan, but the authorities must respect “fundamental freedoms, including the rights to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment”. She distinguished the case from Jimmy Lai’s as he is British. Peers pressed for family access and on aid or trade conditionality. Baroness Chapman said, “We want those imprisoned… to have access to family members,” particularly during medical treatment. She added that ending all aid would be wrong given need and UK interests: “I do not think it would be the right thing to do to end all aid to Pakistan”. On human rights, she noted “very real concerns about the inappropriate use of military courts” and kept rights “integral” to engagement.
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill – Third Reading (Bill passed)
Baroness Merron said the Bill is “but one step in delivering that change” toward “a more sustainable and resilient medical workforce,” tackling training bottlenecks and giving “our homegrown talent a clear path to becoming the next generation of NHS doctors”. She thanked devolved partners and said the Bill does not resolve all NHS workforce issues. Contributions welcomed progress but raised fairness concerns for international medical graduates and UK nationals trained overseas. Baroness Gerada said, “It is unfair to international medical graduates… Now that we have more people than places, we are basically pulling the rug from under them”. Lord Mohammed of Tinsley said they would monitor impacts on specified overseas medical schools and wished students success; the “Bill passed”.
Crime and Policing Bill – Report (Day 1): Respect orders and ASB case reviews
Baroness Doocey moved to change the respect‑order test from “just and convenient” to “necessary and proportionate,” arguing for a clearer and stricter threshold. Lord Pannick supported putting “the true and proper test on the face of the Bill”. Lord Hanson replied that “the current ‘just and convenient’ language mirrors the test in the current civil injunction regime under the 2014 Act,” and that courts already consider necessity and proportionality under the Human Rights Act. The amendment was defeated (Ayes 86, Noes 178). Lord Hanson added a consultation requirement before issuing guidance on respect orders; Amendment 4 was agreed. On Anti‑social Behaviour Case Reviews, Lord Russell of Liverpool sought statutory thresholds and transparency; Ministers pointed to updated statutory guidance (Sept 2025) and new information powers in Clause 7, and he withdrew his amendments following assurances of engagement.
Crime and Policing Bill – Report (Day 1): Fly‑tipping, waste crime, and FPNs
The House agreed stronger anti‑fly‑tipping measures. Lord Davies of Gower’s amendment (guidance) sought to ensure perpetrators, not landowners or communities, bear clean‑up costs; it passed after he argued the costs “fall where they belong: on the perpetrator”, with Ayes 213, Noes 150. Viscount Goschen’s new duty on local waste authorities to collect fly‑tipped waste and then seek recovery from offenders was also agreed. An amendment to make serious and organised waste crime a statutory National Crime Agency priority was defeated (Ayes 59, Noes 152). Earl Russell called waste crime “out of control” and “multi‑billion‑pound”; the Government said “the National Crime Agency is not the lead agency for tackling waste crime” and Section 3 of the 2013 Act should not list crime types. The House further agreed to add three driving‑licence penalty points for fly‑tipping and to allow vehicle seizure for fly‑tipping offences. Separately, the House agreed Lord Clement‑Jones’s amendment to ban “fining for profit” by private contractors enforcing PSPO/CPN FPNs; “we want to put a marker down that fining for profit… must end” (Ayes 205, Noes 188).
Local Government Reorganisation – Ministerial Statement
The Statement explained reversing proposed postponements of some local elections in reorganisation areas. Following further legal advice, “the elections in the affected areas will now go ahead in May 2026 in full”. Baroness Taylor said the original approach was guided by two principles: postponement only in “exceptional circumstances” and being “guided by local leaders”. She confirmed close working with electoral bodies and “up to £63 million in new capacity funding” to support reorganisation. Peers pressed on constitutional constraints and costs. Baroness Taylor said Ministers would reflect on amendments in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and reiterated the convention of not disclosing legal advice. She said total costs are being assessed and are not yet available.
Crime and Policing Bill – Report (Day 1): Knives, crossbows and online sales
Ministers amended online knife/crossbow sale rules to require physical ID at delivery/collection and to enable regulations prescribing alternative (e.g. digital) verification in future; these regimes were extended to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Lord Hanson said the amendments “clarify that the passport or driving licence required as proof of age… must be a physical version,” while allowing regulations for alternative verification so the law “keeps pace with future potential developments in digital ID” and “will not be mandatory”. Lord Clement‑Jones welcomed UK‑wide consistency and sought real‑time reporting of bulk knife sales; Ministers said timings would be set in regulations after police consultation.
Firearms: Sound moderators and flash suppressors
Government amendments removed sound moderators/flash suppressors from the statutory definition of a firearm, while creating an offence to possess one without a firearms or shotgun certificate, with exemptions. Ministers said these are “entirely inert objects which contain no moving parts and do not in themselves create a risk to public safety,” and deregulation would ease police licensing burdens. The change was welcomed across the House and agreed.
Crime and Policing Bill – Report (Day 1): Shop theft venue
Lord Cameron of Lochiel moved to remove Clause 40 so sub‑£200 shop theft remained summary‑only. Baroness Levitt argued Section 22A created a damaging perception that such theft had “in effect, decriminalised” consequences and noted that only 1.3% of such cases were committed for jury trial, so any Crown Court impact would be small. She added that forthcoming reforms would mean “the decision on venue will be made by the magistrates’ court” rather than defendants. The amendment was defeated (Ayes 43, Noes 131).
Crime and Policing Bill – Report (Day 1): Child criminal exploitation, cuckooing and internal concealment
The Government amended the new child criminal exploitation offence to remove the reasonable‑belief‑in‑age element for 13‑ to 17‑year‑olds, making clear: “It is irrelevant whether or not D knows or suspects that C is a child”. Lord Hanson said this responded to concerns that older teenagers can be “wrongly perceived as older,” ensuring responsibility lies with the adult. Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb proposed excluding under‑18s from liability for the new offences of cuckooing and coerced internal concealment and requiring multi‑agency statutory guidance. Government Ministers said charging is case‑specific, existing DfE safeguarding guidance already applies, and the Modern Slavery Act’s Section 45 defence remains available where applicable; non‑statutory guidance will accompany the new offences. Her amendments were withdrawn.