New sentencing laws highlighted in Queen's Speech

Following the recent General Election, the Queen has delivered her speech to Parliament, stressing that the government will work to 'promote and expand the United Kingdom’s influence in the world'.

As part of this, the Queen said that Boris Johnson's government will carry out a review into security, defence and foreign policy, which will 'cover all aspects of international policy from defence to diplomacy and development'.

A few weeks on from the London Bridge terror attack, the Queen also said that her government is pledging new sentencing laws to 'ensure the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists, serve longer in custody', and that ministers will establish a Royal Commission to review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice process.

Regarding serious crime, there will also be new laws requiring schools, police, councils and health authorities to work together to prevent serious crime.