Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to commence Part 12 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022. Under Part 12 of that Act, the Government legislated to extend the scope of the current Disregards and Pardons Scheme under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. This change will enable a greater number of individuals convicted or cautioned for now repealed or abolished offences that regulated sexual activity between people of the same sex to apply to the Secretary of State for their conviction and/or caution to be disregarded, as long as they also satisfy the relevant conditions.

The Home Office has been making the necessary preparations and aims to bring the provisions into force as soon as possible.