Contributions
2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Protection of Retail WorkersAs I laid out in the first half of my comments, the laws exist already. The law criminalises every example of the behaviour—terrible behaviour—that Members have laid out this…07 Jun 2021HANSARD Protection of Retail WorkersI was about to conclude, but it would be ungallant not to give way to the hon. Lady.07 Jun 2021HANSARD Protection of Retail WorkersThe police can only respond to and investigate crimes that are reported, so any investigation starts with the report by the victim or, in this case, the employer. We heard…07 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for her question. My clear understanding is that the police already prosecute for these offences. I will go away and double-check with colleagues to make…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)North West.27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)It is a great pleasure, once again, to serve under your chairmanship, Mr McCabe. I join the hon. Member for Stockton North in paying tribute to the hon. Member for Rotherham for…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)Well, I have reached the end of my remarks—27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I will say a word on that because the shadow Minister asked about it. But, before I do, I give way to him.27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I almost said that without being prompted, but, since I have now been prompted, yes, I will. I hope that the commentary I have given on the operation of the clause addresses the…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)A point is no less powerful for brevity. In fact, some of the most powerful points are brief.27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I pay tribute again to the work done by the hon. Member in this area over many years and the work done by her all-party parliamentary group. I am glad that we agree on the…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I understand the hon. Lady’s point. However, the point about providing some degree of certainty for someone in a particular role in this context, which is at the edge of the…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)There may well be evidence in those areas, but the shadow Minister does not need to draft amendments for Report, because, if the Bill in its current form is passed, it will not…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)The criteria are not specified in subsection (4), which simply says: “The Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsections (1) and (2) to add or remove an activity in which…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I will briefly introduce the clause. At present, when someone commits an act of criminal damage, where the value of that damage is less than £5,000, the matter is triable…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)Let me start by answering some of the points the shadow Minister has just made. First, he questions why the measures are necessary when the Sentencing Council guidelines already…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)First, it is not the prosecutor who makes that determination; it is the judge. Secondly, the judge makes such determinations the whole time. Indeed, judges already make those…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I will be happy to withdraw my remark when the shadow Minister joins us in supporting the clause. If he does so, of course I will withdraw it.27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)My right hon. Friend makes a powerful point. That is exactly the purpose of the clause. The monetary value, the £5,000, does not reflect the profound emotional damage that can be…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)The impact assessment covered all offences that might be caught by the clause, clearly many of which might well be war memorials. We have seen examples of war memorials being…27 May 2021