Lords Tighten Policing, Online Safety; Insist on IRGC Ban

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords held four oral questions on the Farming Road Map, data‑centre energy demand, Local Resilience Forums, and the Prevent programme, then approved two statutory instruments. Peers questioned defence funding arrangements following a Commons Urgent Question. The House undertook substantial consideration of the Crime and Policing Bill, strengthening safeguards on private fixed‑penalty enforcement, increasing fly‑tipping measures, mandating multi‑agency input for youth diversion orders, and insisting on proscription of the IRGC. Major reforms to tackle intimate image abuse and aspects of online pornography were agreed, while the Government’s plan to regulate AI chatbots by updating the Online Safety Act and reporting on progress by end‑2026 was retained.

Detailed Summary

Farming Road Map – Oral Question

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick asked when the 25‑year Farming Road Map would be published. Baroness Hayman of Ullock said, “the farming road map will set the course for farming in England up to 2050… We expect to publish the road map later this year”. She highlighted ongoing stakeholder engagement—“not just talking to stakeholders but listening to what they are saying to us”—and noted monitoring of fertiliser markets and surveys to understand impacts. On EU matters, she said legislation to enable an “EU reset” would follow negotiations. She acknowledged common land groups cannot yet apply to SFI, with the RPA “actively working on a solution” and an update promised, said the next SFI round is “targeted at the smaller farmer”, and that Government is considering 57 recommendations from the profitability review by Baroness Batters.

Data Centres: Energy Demand – Oral Question

Earl Russell asked how growing data‑centre demand relates to clean‑power and net‑zero targets. Lord Whitehead said demand growth “must not prevent delivery of clean power by 2030 and net zero by 2050” and will be managed via smarter siting, flexibility and efficiency. He cautioned that “merely believing that it is all going to be okay… is, at least, a folly” and cited AI growth zones co‑located with new generation. He discussed tidal and storage options, said modern slavery law “needs some uprating” with further details to follow, and noted potential nuclear co‑location, e.g. Wylfa where “the contract for a new SMR has just been signed”. He argued increased gas imports do not necessarily follow because clean power already provides 73.7% of GB generation, targeting 95% by 2030, and highlighted efficiency gains such as dynamic line rating, which “could produce up to a 50% gain in capacity”.

Local Resilience Forums – Oral Question

Lord Harris of Haringey asked about LRFs alongside devolution and police reforms. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said Government is “strengthening the local resilience forum model” and has allocated “£2.5 million of trailblazer funding”. She agreed “one size does not fit all”, pointed to strengthening strategic authorities and mayors, testing chief resilience officers, and feeding into the 2027 Civil Contingencies Act review. She said guidance would support collaboration with LRFs and partners to ensure readiness, noted ideas such as a civilian reserve would be considered in the 2027 review, and said announcements on leadership and accountability for LRFs would come “before the summer”.

Southport Inquiry: Prevent Programme – Oral Question

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb asked about Prevent’s effectiveness after the Southport Inquiry Phase 1 report. Lord Hanson of Flint said steps include “new guidance, training and assessment tools, a stronger approach to repeat referrals and new Channel interventions”, a Prevent commissioner, and a full response “by the summer”. He confirmed Phase 2 will examine non‑ideological drivers, acknowledged data‑sharing failures as “a significant failure identified by Sir Adrian” to be addressed in the summer response, and said officials are examining risks from individuals “obsessed with violence”. He added that “Prevent has helped around 6,000 people” in nine years, and referenced parental responsibility, autism strategy timing (by letter), and loneliness as relevant factors.

Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) Regulations 2026 – Motion to Approve

The House approved the draft regulations laid on 23 February. The motion, moved by Lord Whitehead, was agreed: “Motion agreed.”.

National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2026 – Motion to Approve

The House approved the draft Order laid on 26 February. The motion, moved by Baroness Sherlock, was agreed: “Motion agreed.”.

Strategic Defence Review: Funding – Commons Urgent Question (Lords exchanges)

Peers questioned the Government following a Commons UQ answer on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). Responding Minister Lord Coaker said the Defence Investment Plan is “being finalised… on the Prime Minister’s desk”, and that “We are not waiting for the SDR; we are investing already”, citing helicopter, shipbuilding and F‑35A procurement. He said spending is planned to rise from £60.2bn in 2024‑25 to £73.5bn in 2028‑29, highlighted work to improve warship and submarine availability, and noted ongoing engagement with the Treasury and plans for a national conversation on threats.

Crime and Policing Bill – Fixed‑penalty notices and private enforcement (Motion A/A1)

The Government proposed guidance‑based safeguards on proportionality for fixed‑penalty notices (FPNs) issued by authorised persons (Amendments 2A‑2C), with Lord Hanson saying this would ensure “statutory guidance… addresses the need for proportionality”. Lord Clement‑Jones moved Motion A1 to require that guidance “must include provision” preventing “authorised people or companies… being incentivised to issue fixed penalty notices” and warned of a “cowboy enforcement economy”. The House agreed Motion A1 (Ayes 216, Noes 141), and Motion A as amended was agreed. Next steps: statutory guidance to reflect the House’s instruction.

Crime and Policing Bill – Fly‑tipping: penalties, vehicle seizure and clean‑up (Motions B–E; C, D/D1)

The House agreed Government amendments introducing penalty points on driving licences (3–9 points) for fly‑tipping offences. Lord Hanson said the change “allows a range of three to nine points to be added”. Lord Davies of Gower pressed for explicit police powers to seize vehicles used for fly‑tipping (Motion D1), arguing this would disrupt offenders’ business models; the House agreed (Ayes 225, Noes 144). The House did not insist on requiring councils to assume clean-up on private land due to Commons financial privilege. The Minister also highlighted a wider Waste Crime Action Plan and exploration of stronger Environment Agency powers.

Crime and Policing Bill – Weapons offence sentencing (Motion F)

The Government increased the maximum sentence for the new offence of possessing a weapon with intent to cause unlawful violence from four to seven years. Lord Hanson said the amendment “raises the maximum term to seven years’ imprisonment”. The House agreed Motion F.

Crime and Policing Bill – Closure orders duration (Motion P)

On extending closure powers against premises involved in criminality, the Government proposed a regulation‑making power, following consultation, to alter maximum durations for closure orders (Amendment 333A). Lord Hanson said consultation would focus “not on whether to exercise the regulation power but on how to exercise it”. Motion P was agreed.

Intimate image abuse: takedown, deletion orders and register (Motions G, H, J)

Baroness Levitt introduced Government amendments requiring user‑to‑user and search services to remove intimate image content within 48 hours of a report and, crucially, “making failure to comply with an Ofcom enforcement decision… a criminal offence” for senior executives. She confirmed statutory backing for a non‑consensual intimate image (NCII) register via trusted flaggers, with further details by regulations. Baroness Owen sought added transparency on takedown times but withdrew Motion G1; Motion G was agreed. The House also agreed new image deletion orders on conviction, with breach an offence “not exceeding five years”. A statutory framework for an NCII register, including duties and enforcement, was also agreed.

Online pornography: incest depictions, age and consent verification, and role‑play as under‑16 (Motions K, L, M)

The House agreed amendments criminalising possession/publication of pornography depicting specified family relations, extended to include step‑ and foster relationships where at least one person is or is pretending to be under 18. The Government also secured powers to impose duties on providers for verifying age and consent of individuals in pornographic content, with a duty to review and report to Parliament within 12 months. A new offence criminalises pornographic depictions of sexual activity where at least one party is or is pretending to be under 16, with publication punishable by up to five years. Minister Baroness Levitt said this is “a first step”, with further work on online/offline parity to follow.

Extreme criminal protest groups (Motion N/N1)

The Government opposed creating a designation regime for extreme criminal protest groups. Lord Hanson cited the Independent Reviewer’s concerns that a parallel regime could undermine terrorism proscription and said, “It would be appropriate to wait for the outcome of that review” by Lord Macdonald of River Glaven. Lord Walney did not press his Motion N1; Motion N was agreed.

Youth Diversion Orders: multi‑agency consultation (Motion S/S1)

The Commons’ amendment provided that statutory guidance “may… include” pre‑application considerations and consultation duties. Baroness Doocey urged a statutory duty to consult all relevant agencies, citing the Southport Inquiry: “The tragedy was not caused by a lack of powers but by systemic failure”. The House insisted on its original amendment (Ayes 192, Noes 142). Next steps: Commons to consider Lords insistence.

Glorification of terrorism – targeted review (Motion T)

The Government resisted widening the encouragement offence but committed to commission the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to conduct “a targeted review of the encouragement offence”. The Motion to insist was not moved; Motion T was agreed. Next steps: reviewer to consult and report; potential further Government consideration.

IRGC proscription (Motion U/U1) and consequential (Motion X/X1)

The Government opposed mandating proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reiterating that it does not comment on potential proscriptions and stating, “We have sanctioned 550 Iranian individuals and entities, including members of the IRGC”. The House nevertheless insisted on its amendment (Ayes 186, Noes 144). A consequential Motion X1 was also agreed. Next steps: Commons to consider Lords insistence.

Non‑crime hate incidents (NCHI) – historic records and disclosure (Motion Q/Q1)

Lord Young of Acton sought to require deletion of historic NCHIs that do not meet the new higher threshold and to limit disclosure. The Government pointed to acceptance of the College of Policing/NPCC review and warned that blanket deletion “risks removing information that may still be relevant to safeguarding vulnerable persons and communities”. The House did not insist (Ayes 142, Noes 192). Next steps: implementation of the new recording standard and guidance.

Police misconduct after criminal acquittal (Motion R/R1)

Lord Davies of Gower proposed barring misconduct proceedings on the same conduct after an officer’s criminal acquittal, save for new and compelling evidence. The Government opposed a blanket presumption, citing cases of serious wrongdoing such as “sexual offences or corruption”. The House did not insist (Ayes 135, Noes 154). Next steps: independent end‑to‑end review of police accountability to be announced.

AI chatbots and the Online Safety Act – regulation route (Motion V/V1)

The Government retained the approach of updating the Online Safety Act to bring unregulated chatbots into scope, with a duty to “lay before Parliament… a report” on progress “before the end of the 12 month period” to 31 December 2026. Baroness Kidron argued this was “process not action”, citing recent harms and seeking immediate criminal offences. The House did not insist on her amendments (Ayes 115, Noes 121). Next steps: Government to develop regulations and share drafts with committees and stakeholders.

Abortion convictions: deletion of records (Motion W)

The House agreed Government amendments to make the duty to remove historic records of convictions, cautions, arrests or investigations for abolished abortion offences operationally workable, requiring deletion “so far as reasonably practicable” by relevant data controllers. Motion W was agreed.

Nudification tools – possession offence (Motion Y)

The House did not insist on creating a specific possession offence for nudification tools. The Government argued it was unnecessary because new offences on making/supplying tools and Online Safety Act duties “deliver an effective ban on nudification tools”. Motion Y was agreed.