Contributions
735 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI want to address the question of enshrining victims’ rights in law and discuss a particular group of victims: bereaved families and survivors of public disasters. I have been…09 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)Does the Minister believe that, were the provision to be enacted and the thresholds reduced, as some of us have argued, more protests would have conditions imposed? Does she have…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)My hon. Friend is being most generous in giving way. Does he agree that this unnecessary criminalisation of dissent, which would happen if the Bill were enacted, goes against the…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I understand the point made by the right hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby. That is a concern, of course. Does my hon. Friend agree that there have been many protests outside…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)Does my hon. Friend agree that in addition to putting the police in an invidious position, the measure will promote different interpretations across different forces, and possibly…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I do agree with that point. One might then have an argument with the organisers about whether the nature of those protests is appropriate. I still do not think that it is a reason…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I have already made a number of interventions and do not intend to make an extremely long speech. I want to make some points about what I consider to be wholly unnecessary…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I am not saying that the Bill does. I am not looking at any particular Member, but I know the attitude of some Members is somewhat determined by whether they agree with the…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I agree. I do not accept that we must not interfere at all, but we must interfere in a proportionate and necessary manner. There is always a balance: freedom of expression is not…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I am not saying that clause 56 will send more people to prison, but the Minister will accept that it increases the maximum penalties.08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)Is what the Minister says not an argument for banning all protest? It is not at all clear, at the beginning of a protest, which protests are going to go wrong in that way. She…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I am listening to this exchange with some care. Does my hon. Friend agree that the context of all of this is that there is a fundamental right to freedom of expression and freedom…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)Does my hon. Friend agree that the police already have significant powers under the Public Order Act 1986 to impose conditions and to prohibit protests, that they have broad…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Ninth sitting)I am pleased to hear that one of us at least had an extremely effective demonstration technique. I can recall many people on our side of the debate going on demonstrations and…08 Jun 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)I have been listening carefully to the Minister’s response. Will he undertake to get back to Opposition Members and indeed the whole Committee before Report?27 May 2021HANSARD Business of the HouseThe final criminal trials relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster collapsed yesterday, 32 years after 96 wholly innocent children, women and men were unlawfully killed by the…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)Given that the Minister is determined to learn the lessons of these reviews and given the importance of properly funding local agencies to carry out any such improvements, can she…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)My hon. Friend referred to a fishing expedition. Generally speaking in the criminal law, fishing expeditions are not encouraged, and court rules generally seek to discourage them…27 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Fifth sitting)I do not wish to detain the Committee for long; I have just a couple of points. The Minister set out that the consultation has gone on. It was obviously a manifesto commitment of…25 May 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Fifth sitting)The Minister has been very generous in giving way. It sounds as if she is moving towards the suggestion that she might not accept the amendment. Although in broad terms, the word…25 May 2021