Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to provisions in the Public Order Act 2023 (c. 64) (“the Act”) concerning the meaning of “key national infrastructure”.

Section 7 of the Act makes it an offence for a person to do an act which interferes with the use or operation of “key national infrastructure” in England and Wales where the person intends the act to have that effect or is reckless as to whether it will do so. Section 8 of the Act further defines the different kinds of “key national infrastructure” for the purposes of section 7.

Regulation 2 amends the definition of “key national infrastructure” at section 7(6) of the Act to include “life sciences infrastructure” and amends section 8 of the Act to include a definition of “life sciences infrastructure”.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact on the private sector, voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside this instrument on legislation.gov.uk. Copies may also be obtained from the Police Powers Unit at the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.