ABSTRACT
Many of the areas covered in this book have been the subject of reform proposals during the past 20 years. Most of these proposals have not, however, as yet been acted on. They have generally emanated from reports by the Law Commission. One such report, Offences Against the Person and General Principles,1 has now formed the basis of a consultation paper and draft Bill issued by the Home Office in February 1998 (Violence: Reforming the Offences Against the Person Act 1861). The paper and the Bill deal with non-fatal and non-sexual offences against the person. Since it seems likely that this will be the first area on which there is likely to be legislation, this chapter will start with a discussion of the draft Bill, and will then look at some other areas where the Law Commission has proposed reform. Subject to this, the order of treatment in this chapter follows that for the book as a whole.
