Consultation Hub

This site lists consultations that are run by the Ministry of Justice.

For more information on current government consultations go to GOV.UK.

Open Consultations

  • Sentencing Council Strategic Objectives 2027-2030

    The Sentencing Council for England Wales is consulting on its proposed strategic objectives for the period 2027 to 2030. The consultation, which will run from 9 July to 30 October, invites views from the public, criminal justice professionals, and all those with an interest in...

    Closes 30 October 2026

  • New prison in Lancashire

    The Ministry of Justice is sharing further information on the Reserved Matters Application for the new prison in Chorley, Lancashire. In December 2024, Outline Planning Permission was granted for the new prison. The next step for the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is the submission of the...

    Closes 1 November 2026

  • Miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines 2026

    What is this consultation about? The Sentencing Council has built up a large body of sentencing guidelines and accompanying materials that are in use in courts throughout England and Wales. Over time guidelines require updating because users have pointed out issues (often using the...

    Closes 2 December 2026

  • Standard of proof for the short-form inquest conclusion of unlawful killing

    The Ministry of Justice is seeking views on whether it would be appropriate to consider a change to the standard of proof for the short-form inquest conclusion of unlawful killing from the civil standard (i.e. on the balance of probabilities) to the criminal standard (i.e. beyond reasonable doubt)....

    Closes 7 December 2026

  • Bladed Article and Offensive Weapon etc. Offences Guidelines

    What is the Council consulting about? In 2018 the following three guidelines for bladed article and offensive weapon offences were published by the Sentencing Council: Having a bladed article or offensive weapon in a public place (formerly possession of a bladed article...

    Closes 6 January 2027

Closed Consultations

  • Law Commission consultation on homicide offences

    This is a public consultation by the Law Commission for England and Wales. We are conducting a review of the law of homicide and considering the need for reform to improve its clarity, coherence, fairness and effectiveness. The review is divided into three strands; homicide offences, defences...

    Closed 16 October 2026

  • Response form for the Easy Read summary of the kinship care consultation paper

    We are the Law Commission of England and Wales. The UK Government asked us to look at the law on kinship care. Kinship care is when children are cared for by family members or close family friends instead of their parents. We wrote a paper called a...

    Closed 16 October 2026

  • Law Commission consultation on homicide offences - Easy Read

    This is a public consultation by the Law Commission for England and Wales. The Government has asked us to look at the law about homicide. Homicide is when a person kills another person. Many people think the current law of homicide is not fair or clear enough. In this...

    Closed 16 October 2026

  • Law Commission consultation on kinship care (consultation paper)

    This is a public consultation about kinship care by the Law Commission for England and Wales. Kinship care is when a child is cared for by an adult who is not their parent for a significant amount of time. Kinship carers are usually relatives or family friends, and the kinship care...

    Closed 16 October 2026

  • Independent statutory regulation of probation practitioners

    This consultation is being launched with two key purposes, which are: To set out the rationale and timing for independent regulation of the probation profession in England and Wales To seek views on the design of functions and scope of a probation regulator and what type...

    Closed 8 October 2026