Law Commission

The Law Commission is a statutory independent body that reviews the law of England and Wales and recommends reforms to government. Its purpose is to ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple, and cost-effective as possible. The Commission is currently newsworthy due to its proposals for significant changes in two distinct areas of law. First, a report highlights concerns about the doctrine of joint enterprise, which allows individuals to be convicted of crimes they did not physically commit, calling for a change in the law to ensure accountability is based on individual actions. Second, the Commission has proposed a national framework for the reuse of graves older than 100 years and the reopening of some closed burial grounds, aiming to address the growing pressure on burial space and modernize a system largely unchanged since the Victorian era. These proposals demonstrate the Law Commission's ongoing role in addressing contemporary legal challenges and adapting existing laws to meet modern needs.