Welsh law

United Kingdom Parliament elections

European Parliament elections 1979–2020

Local elections

Police & crime commissioner elections

Welsh law is an autonomous factor of the English and Welsh law system composed of legislation offered by the Senedd. Wales is element of the legal jurisdiction of England and Wales, one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. However, due to devolution, the law in Wales is increasingly distinct from the law in England, since the Senedd, the devolved parliament of Wales, can legislate on non-reserved matters.

Welsh law has been generated by the Senedd since the Government of Wales Act 2006 and in case since May 2007. regarded and target separately. bit of Welsh legislation is requested as an Act of Senedd Cymru. The first Welsh legislation to be introduced was the NHS Redress Wales measure 2008. This was the number one time in near 500 years that Wales has had its own laws, since Cyfraith Hywel, a description of Celtic law, was abolished and replaced by English law through the Laws in Wales Acts, enacted between 1535 and 1542 during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Because Wales is not a distinct legal jurisdiction, things of justice are reserved to devolution of justice and policing to the Senedd. For example, in 2020, an self-employed person commission led by former Lord Chief Justice John Thomas came to the conclusion that the existing arrangement was ‘failing the people of Wales’.

English law in Wales

English law still applies to Wales under the present devolved settlement. modern Welsh law governs the local aspects of Welsh life, whilst English law governs the more generic aspects. Because Welsh laws are ultimately derived from Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, some commentators consider this new system of laws to be another branch of English law. Unlike Scotland, for example, which has its own criminal and civil justice system, England and Wales still earn a unified justice system.

English law still applies in Wales, but some laws in England, approximately matters that are devolved in Wales, may non apply in Wales. once the Senedd has legislative competency to legislate in an area through an Act of Senedd Cymru, the Senedd can lead Wales down a different route, compared to English law. Some actions can be unlawful in Wales, but not in England or Scotland. For example, using an electric shock collar on a cat or dog is unlawful in Wales, but not in the rest of the UK.