Contributions
1,629 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for coming. Do you want to begin by telling us about the protests you have been affected by? What happened, how did it all progress, what did the police do, what…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. Mr Parr, we have talked about your report many times in Committee and in Parliament, and what the definition of “a modest reset” is in terms of the powers and how it…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Hello. We have been round this process once already in recent times with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill; it is good to have you back here. It would be helpful if…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Can you talk us through some of your powers that have been used for arresting and charging protesters—for instance, aggravated trespass, criminal damage and obstructing a…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Can you talk us through injunctions and how the police work through somebody getting an injunction? How does that operate? Chris Noble: We have tried to make an assessment about…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Is the timescale a frustration? Do they take longer than you would want them to? Chris Noble: Yes.09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Obviously, this Bill was first introduced last year as amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 in the Lords. Can you talk us through the consultation the…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Back in 2019, Matt Parr did a big piece of work with Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary and fire & rescue services. Some of the aspects we are looking at today were…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Not changes in the law; most of the recommendations in his report are not about changing the law. They are about “equipping police commanders with up to date, accessible…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Presumably it is more of a deterrent if it is a six-month prison sentence. Nicola Bell: Yes.09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q If changes were to be made to the way you apply for injunctions and how that works, what would make your life easier when you are trying to get them? John Groves: As you said at…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Could I ask Ms Bell to talk us through the current policing powers that have been used on the highways, and in particular around people blocking the motorways, some of whom have…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q You obviously have these hardcore people who are persistent: who are being arrested, being charged, and then coming back again. To what extent do you think a new offence of…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q But static protests can be anywhere. It is the police imposing conditions on static protests, in the same way as they can in— John Groves: It may have some positive effect,…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q It is really clear that the cases you are talking about are people doing criminal activity that need to be stopped in the best way we can—I do not think anyone on this Committee…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q I have a couple of quick follow-up questions. You might not know the answer to the first one, but I am interested to know whether you were aware in either case of whether there…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q And was that helpful? Elizabeth de Jong: It was very helpful indeed.09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q In terms of the powers the police already have and the challenges they face, it would be helpful if you could set out whether you are content with the powers they have, what…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Can you explain what you mean by that? What do you mean by saying the Bill will end up putting people in prison? What do you think will happen? Will you speak to the specifics…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q You mentioned that the police did not start removing people straight away and that there was a delay. What happened? Why was there a delay? David Dinsmore: My understanding is…09 Jun 2022