Crime and Courts Act 2013

The Act was introduced by the coalition government of David Cameron, with the stated aim of modernising the justice system and improving the efficiency of the courts. It followed a period of austerity and a commitment to reduce the cost of the criminal justice system. The Act also responded to the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press, which reported in November 2012. The press regulation provisions were among the most contentious, leading to a royal charter on self-regulation that was subsequently challenged in court.

The Act created the National Crime Agency (NCA), which replaced the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and took on responsibilities for tackling organised crime, border policing, and child protection. It also introduced reforms to the courts, including the ability for the Lord Chief Justice to direct that certain serious cases be tried by a judge alone (without a jury) in cases of jury tampering. The Act also made provision for the use of deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) for corporate crime, allowing companies to avoid prosecution if they meet certain conditions.

Part 2 of the Act established a framework for press regulation, creating a new regulator that would be recognised by a royal charter. The charter was granted in October 2013, but the main press publishers refused to sign up, leading to the creation of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) as a rival body. The Act also included provisions for the recognition of press regulators, with a requirement that they be independent and effective. The royal charter was later amended, but the system remains voluntary, and the majority of the press is regulated by IPSO, which is not recognised under the Act.

The Act also contained a number of less-publicised measures, including the abolition of the office of the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency and the creation of a new Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. It also made changes to the law on extradition, allowing the UK to extradite its own citizens to other countries without a prima facie case, and it introduced provisions for the use of video links in court proceedings. The Act also amended the law on the disclosure of criminal records, and it included a provision that allows courts to make a 'criminal courts charge' order, which was later abolished in 2015.

National Crime Agency

A national law enforcement agency in the UK, established by the Act, responsible for tackling serious and organised crime.

Deferred prosecution agreement

A voluntary agreement between a prosecutor and a company that allows the company to avoid prosecution if it complies with certain conditions, such as paying a fine and cooperating with an investigation.

Royal charter

A formal document issued by the monarch that grants a body legal status and powers, in this case to a press regulator.