Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

<p>The Bill includes a wide range of measures.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>brings in a new framework for police retention of fingerprints and DNA data, and requires schools to get parents&rsquo; consent before processing children&rsquo;s biometric information</li><li>introduces a code of practice for surveillance camera systems and provides for judicial approval of certain surveillance activities by local authorities</li><li>provides for a code of practice to cover officials&rsquo; powers of entry, with these powers being subject to review and repeal</li><li>outlaws wheel-clamping on private land</li><li>introduces a new regime for police stops and searches under the Terrorism Act 2000 and reduces the maximum pre-charge detention period under that Act from 28 to 14 days</li><li>restricts the scope of the 'vetting and barring' scheme for protecting vulnerable groups and makes changes to the system of criminal records checks</li><li>enables those with convictions for consensual sexual relations between men aged 16 or over (which have since been decriminalised) to apply to have them disregarded</li><li>extends Freedom of Information rights by requiring datasets to be available in a re-usable format</li><li>repeals provisions (never brought into force) which would have allowed trial without a jury in complex fraud cases</li><li>removes time restrictions on when marriage or civil partnership ceremonies may take place.</li></ul>