# The Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/1090 · made 15 October 2026

These Regulations bring into force specified provisions of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (c. 20) (“the Act”). These are the fourth commencement regulations made under the Act.

Made under: Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Section 255)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026-commencement-no-4-regulations-2026/pdf/uksi_20261090_en.pdf

## Introductory text

CRIMINAL LAW
Made 15th October 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 255(1) of the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

## 1 Citation and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026.
(2) In these Regulations, “the Act” means the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

## 2 Provisions coming into force on 6th November 2026

The following provisions of the Act come into force on 6th November 2026—
(a) section 104(1) to (3) (pornographic images of strangulation or suffocation: England and Wales and Northern Ireland), so far as it extends to England and Wales;
(b) section 104(4) and (5);
(c) section 106 (pornographic images of sex between relatives);
(d) section 107 (pornographic images of sexual activity with child under 16);
(e) section 137 (child abduction).

## 3 Provision coming into force on 16th November 2026

Section 242 of the Act (provisions for pardons and criminal records of women prosecuted under abortion law) comes into force on 16th November 2026.

## Signature

Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State
Alex Davies-Jones
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Ministry of Justice
15th October 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force specified provisions of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (c. 20) (“the Act”). These are the fourth commencement regulations made under the Act.
Regulation 2 brings a number of provisions into force on 6th November 2026. These provisions relate to offences concerning the possession and publication of specified kinds of pornography, and child abduction, in England and Wales.
Regulation 3 brings section 242 of the Act into force on 16th November 2026. Section 242 makes provision for pardons and the deletion of relevant details in criminal records of women convicted of, cautioned for, arrested for, or investigated on suspicion of, an offence under the law related to abortion, where they were acting in relation to their own pregnancy.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this statutory instrument as impact assessments were produced in relation to the Act. Copies can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice at 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ, or from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-act-2026-impact-assessments.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/1090 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026-commencement-no-4-regulations-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.