Overview
- The government published a draft Conversion Practices Bill that would create a new criminal offence of 'abusive conversion practice' punishable by up to five years in prison and is now being examined by a parliamentary joint committee.
- Ministers and Downing Street have repeatedly said the bill will not criminalise ordinary parenting, everyday workplace interactions, or legitimate religious practice and that a high legal threshold will be required to prosecute.
- Legal experts, campaign groups and think tanks have warned the bill’s broad wording could sweep in routine conversations and faith-based activity and that it lacks clear carve-outs and a defined threshold for abusiveness.
- The draft includes an offence of omission that can hold organisations liable if they fail to 'take all reasonable steps' to prevent an offence, which critics say could expose employers, directors and institutions to criminal or civil risk and drive compliance costs.
- The bill’s handling has provoked political friction this week over the scrutiny committee’s membership and competing media and think-tank analyses that range from calls for stronger protections for victims to warnings the draft is legally unworkable and risks chilling speech and family life.