Correspondence

Letter from Lord Hanson to Lord Davies detailing government amendments for Lords Third Reading: 20 March 2026

Updated 25 March 2026

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State for the Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

The Lord Davies of Gower
House of Lords

20 March 2026

Dear Byron,

Crime and Policing Bill: Government amendments for Lords Third Reading

I am writing with details of the government amendments which I have today tabled for Lords Third Reading.

Taking down of non-consensual intimate image content (new clauses “Taking down intimate image content” and “Taking down intimate image content: consequential amendments” and amendment to clause 263)

On 19 February, the Prime Minister announced a new requirement for platforms and search services to remove (or de-index) non-consensual intimate images (NCII) within 48 hours of them being reported - backed by Ofcom through its enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act 2023. Following this, in response to an amendment tabled by Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge at Report stage, Baroness Levitt undertook to bring forward government amendments on this topic at Third Reading (Hansard, 2 March 2026, column 1090).

These new clauses introduce a targeted amendment to the Online Safety Act 2023 so that, where an NCII report is made in accordance with requirements set out, platforms must ensure their systems and processes take down the content “as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 48 hours after receiving the report”. Search services will have a duty to operate a service using proportionate systems and processes designed to ensure that users are no longer able to encounter intimate images through search content as soon as reasonably practicable, and no later than 48 hours after they have received the report. This provides clear expectation of the urgency with which service providers must act and provides victims with a clear backstop. The amendments will provide the Secretary of State the power to make regulations about how the requirements of an intimate image report are to be met. The new clauses apply UK-wide.

I also attach supplementary delegated powers and ECHR memorandums in respect of these amendments.

Drafting and technical amendments (amendment to Schedule 2 and clause 263)

The two amendments to Schedule 2 correct an amendment to section 78 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to refer to a closure notice instead of an extension notice, while the amendment to clause 263 provides that the amendment to the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 in clause 207(9) has UK wide extent.

I am copying this letter to Lord Cameron of Lochiel, Baroness Doocey, Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames, Lord Clement-Jones, Baroness Brinton, Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Chair, Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee), Lord Alton of Liverpool (Chair, Joint Committee on Human Rights), Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge, Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Max Wilkinson and Luke Taylor. I am also placing a copy of the letter and enclosures in the library of the House.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Hanson of Flint