The first reading of a wide-ranging piece of legislation designed to modernise, streamline and strengthen the Island’s Criminal Justice System will take place in the House of Keys this week.
The Justice and Home Affairs (Reform and Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025 delivers a series of targeted reforms to the Justice Reform Act 2021, alongside a range of additional amendments to legislation mostly focused on the Island’s Criminal Justice System. Together, these changes support the strategic aims of the Criminal Justice Strategy, by creating a more effective, efficient and responsive justice system for the public.
Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Jane Poole-Wilson MHK said:
‘The proposed reforms represent a significant step forward in strengthening the Island’s Criminal Justice System and in ensuring it continues to serve and meet the needs of the community.’
A modernised framework for justice
The Bill is closely linked to the modernising objectives of the Criminal Justice Strategy. It introduces measures that streamline and improve the criminal justice process, ensuring that victims are a key focus in the reform. The Bill builds on the Justice Reform Act 2021 with some technical and operational refinements to optimise delivery of the earlier Act’s objectives.
The Bill also sets out a number of amendments across wider legislation. Many of these changes address specific Tynwald recommendations and Government priorities, including, controls around immigration advisors, the ability to issue statutory guidance to limit access to firearms for mentally disordered individuals and amendments to fireworks legislation to bring in flexibility around notice requirements.
Extensive engagement and public consultation
The Department undertook a five-week public consultation from 22 September to 27 October 2025, following significant early engagement with key stakeholders across the Criminal Justice System. These stakeholders provided detailed feedback on the operational impact of the 2021 Act and suggested enhancements to both that Act and connected legislation.
Feedback received has been considered in finalising the Bill. A full summary of responses will be published soon on the Government’s online Consultation Hub.
Of the consultation feedback received, there was demonstrable support for enhanced safeguarding and victim protection within the Bill. One area of concern highlighted by the public feedback was proposed changes to firearms legislation.
The Department remains committed to delivering the Tynwald recommendation through the proposed firearms legislation changes as they are intended to protect the public and individuals, but have proposed formalising consultation with the Firearms Licensing Consultative Committee in developing the new statutory guidance.
The Bill is scheduled for first reading on 16 December 2025.
