English Criminal Code

History

• 1818 - Parliament petitions the Prince Regent for a Law Commission to consolidate English statute law.
• 1831 - Commission established to enquire into the possibility of a criminal code. The commission reports in 1835 and there are seven more reports over the next decade. A Criminal Law Code Bill is introduced, referred to a Select committee and then dropped.
• 1879 - A Royal Commission under Colin Blackburn, Baron Blackburn recommends and drafts a code.
• 1882 - Since 1844 there had been eight unsuccessful attempts to enact a code.
• 1965 - The Law Commission of England and Wales is established with a remit to review the law of England and Wales:

• 1985 - Draft code published.
• 1989 - Draft code revised and expanded.
• 2002 - Government reiterates its intention to proceed with a code.

  Arguments for a Code