Guides

The 2014 Care Act changed the way that adults in England who require care due to old age, illness or disability receive support. At the heart of the Care Act is the 'wellbeing principle', which establishes local authorities' responsibility to safeguard and further the wellbeing of those under their jurisdiction.Read More

The 1989 Children Act brought together and simplified existing legislation relating to the care of children.  Within family law, it shifted the legislative focus towards keeping families together, and valuing children as individuals with their own interests and rights.Read More

The 2006 Companies Act is the main Act now regulating British company law. It replaced the Companies Acts of 1985 and 1989. The Act is said to be the longest piece of legislation approved by Parliament.Read More

The 1990 Computer Misuse Act represented the first major legislative attempt to tackle cyber threats and criminalise hacking, viruses, malware, and spyware. There were 441 prosecutions under the Computer Misuse Act between 2007 and 2018.Read More

The aim of the 2015 Consumer Rights Act is designed to aid both consumers and retailers in understanding their rights and responsibilities, and thus to reduce and simplify disputes. It also seeks to encourage business based on fair practices and access to information.Read More

The Data Protection Act 2018 manages how data is accessed and managed. The 2018 Act addresses how data is managed online, not least in light of the substantial digital advances that have occurred since the passing of the original 1998 Act.Read More

The 1996 Employment Rights Act is the dominant piece of legislation that lays out the rights of workers in the United Kingdom. Read More

The 2010 Equality Act unites a range of anti-discrimination legislation and compounds it into a single, comprehensive law. It is the dominant piece of equality legislation in the United Kingdom. Read More

Under the FOI Act, a public authority is required to make certain information available. The Act was intended to increase transparency and improve public trust. Rather ironically, the most famous Freedom of Information request, is the one that led to the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal.Read More

The 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act introduced a legal responsibility for employers to protect the health and safety of all those who work or visit them. In 2018 there were 147 fatal injuries in the workplace, compared with 651 in 1974. Similarly, non-fatal accidents are now 21% of the 1974 figure.Read More

The Human Rights Act ensures everyone is granted certain rights and freedoms, and is treated equally regardless of their identity. The Act has led to a number of high profile court decisions ranging from Hillsborough to the freedom of the press.Read More

The Mental Health Act is the central piece of mental health legislation that lays out the circumstances that justify people being 'sectioned' in England and Wales.Read More

The Modern Slavery Act introduced tougher penalties on the perpetrators of modern slavery, as well as more extensive support for its victims. At the time of its introduction, it was suggested that as many as 13,000 people were trapped in forced labour in the UK. Read More