Lords approve final amendments to Crime and Policing Bill at third reading
The Crime and Policing Bill has completed its third reading in the House of Lords, marking the final stage of scrutiny in the upper chamber before returning to the House of Commons.
The third reading took place on 25 March 2026 and provided members with an opportunity to make final adjustments to ensure the legislation is clear, effective and free from loopholes.
The Bill forms part of a wide-ranging government programme addressing several areas of criminal justice and public safety. Its provisions cover anti-social behaviour, knife crime, violence against women and girls, theft, child sexual abuse, other sexual offences, and youth radicalisation.
During the third reading, members agreed to a number of government amendments, including changes relating to intimate image abuse. These amendments followed proposals raised during earlier stages in the Lords.
Further amendments were also considered on issues connected to online safety and harmful content. These included proposals aimed at ensuring that internet services take all reasonable steps to identify and remove duplicated non-consensual image content. Additional provisions addressed the treatment of pornographic material involving sexual activity between relatives.
A division was held on a proposed duty requiring the recording and reporting of the average time taken to remove such content. The amendment was agreed by members, introducing an additional reporting obligation in this area.
Third reading in the House of Lords is typically focused on refining legislation rather than introducing substantive new policy. It allows peers to review the final form of a bill following earlier scrutiny at committee and report stages.
Prior to this stage, the Bill underwent detailed examination during the committee stage between November 2025 and February 2026, followed by further consideration at the report stage between February and March 2026.
With the third reading now complete, the Bill will return to the House of Commons for consideration of the amendments made by the Lords. This stage enables MPs to review and decide whether to accept, reject or propose further changes to the revised provisions.
The progression of the Bill reflects its status as a significant piece of legislation within the Government’s legislative programme, addressing a broad range of criminal justice and public protection issues.