Local Authority round-up – 8 August 2025
8th August, 2025
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Regulatory
AI technology to be rolled out to the Police
The Government has announced an expansion of artificial intelligence tools to support police investigations into child sexual exploitation, grooming gangs and modern slavery. The initiative is funded with £426,000 via the Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) Programme. The suite of AI-assisted applications, currently utilised by thirteen forces, can interpret foreign-language text from seized devices, resulting in savings of more than £20 million and 16,000 investigation hours.
The rollout is a direct response to the audit conducted by Baroness Louise Casey in June 2025, which recommended a national review of ‘cold cases’ and improvements in tools and systems for policing group-based child sexual exploitation. Operation Beaconport—a National Crime Agency-led national policing operation—has already been ordered to revisit over 1,200 closed or unsolved historical cases.
This initiative aims to increase public confidence in policing and the criminal justice ensuring forces have the tools necessary to protect communities.
For more information please click here.
Health & Social Care
Patients could receive medicines through the NHS 3-6 months faster
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have launched a joint information‑sharing agreement enabling pharmaceutical companies to register their products early. By submitting to both agencies concurrently—via the UK PharmaScan database—drug licensing and value assessment can proceed in parallel. As a result, medications could become available to the NHS in England 3 to 6 months sooner than under the previous sequential approval model.
This initiative seeks to reduce regulatory red‑tape and cut administrative costs by 25% for the pharmaceutical industry. The integrated pathway offers developers unified scientific advice and streamlined health technology assessment. The Health Secretary emphasised this approach will deliver innovative treatments to patients faster.
For more information please click here.
Education
Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 now in force in England and Wales
From 1 August 2025, universities and colleges in England are legally required to uphold and actively promote freedom of speech and academic freedom under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. The Act clarifies that only speech that is unlawful — such as incitement to violence or hate speech — can be restricted, and any curbs on lawful speech must meet a high justification threshold.
Educational institutions are also prohibited from using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to prevent victims of bullying, harassment, or misconduct from reporting their experiences. The Office for Students (OfS) has been granted powers to investigate breaches and issue financial penalties.
The changes aim to safeguard academic inquiry from self-censorship and institutional bias, while ensuring victims of misconduct are not silenced through coercive legal agreements.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Events
Beyond Graduation: Navigating the Global Talent Visa
Please join us for our seminar, Beyond Graduation: Navigating the Global Talent Visa, on Thursday 28th August, in partnership with The PathFinder Organisation and No5 Barristers’ Chambers.
The event is at No5 Barristers’ Chambers, Birmingham and begins at 4:00pm.
During this event, we will provide you with in-depth insight into the Global Talent Visa so that you are equipped with the knowledge needed to identify and obtain the relevant achievements and supporting evidence to make a successful application.
This event is aimed at international students and graduates to assist them to start planning their Global Talent Visa application early.
To register your place, please click here.
For further information please contact Tim Care in our Public Sector Team.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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