The criminal law changes backed by MPs including pornography, protests and anti-social behaviour

MPs have approved a wide-ranging Crime and Policing Bill that introduces significant reforms to criminal law, including new measures on pornography, protests, antisocial behaviour, and fly-tipping. The legislation, described by Home Office minister Sarah Jones as "the largest criminal justice Bill in a generation," includes provisions to hold tech executives personally liable if their platforms fail to remove intimate images shared without consent. It also criminalises possessing or publishing images depicting sex between real or pretend relatives, with a new ban on step-relative pornography where at least one performer is or pretends to be under 18. The Bill also addresses public order by introducing "respect orders" aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour and removes the £200 threshold for what constitutes "low level" theft. Controversially, it mandates senior police officers to consider the cumulative disruption caused by protest movements when setting conditions, a change that drew criticism from Labour MPs who warned it could erode civil liberties and restrict the right to protest. Despite opposition, the Government defended the measure as a minor adjustment that does not intend to curtail protest rights. A vote on this aspect resulted in a decisive defeat for the Labour rebels. Additional reforms include a Lords-backed amendment pardoning women convicted or cautioned for illegal abortions and expunging related records, following earlier moves to decriminalise self-managed abortions. The Bill also targets environmental crime by imposing stricter penalties on repeat fly-tippers, including the potential loss of driving licences and penalty points. These measures reflect growing concerns about the social and community impact of fly-tipping. Overall, the Bill represents a comprehensive overhaul of criminal justice policies, balancing tougher enforcement on certain offences with protections for individual rights. Its passage signals the Government’s intent to modernise legal frameworks in response to evolving societal challenges, though some provisions remain contentious, particularly around protest regulation and civil liberties.