As was the case with the last clutch of Lords amendments, although this grouping has the broad heading of ““Miscellaneous and minor amendments””, some of the amendments in it deal with important matters. Lords amendments Nos. 67 to 68 and 105 to 110 simply close loopholes in the legislation on...

As was the case with the last clutch of Lords amendments, although this grouping has the broad heading of ““Miscellaneous and minor amendments””, some of the amendments in it deal with important matters. Lords amendments Nos. 67 to 68 and 105 to 110 simply close loopholes in the legislation on...

First, on the broad issue of football banning orders, it would be remiss not to put on record the fact that they have been hugely successful, not least in managing the behaviour of English fans at the World cup in Germany in the summer. It is therefore appropriate to tweak...

First, on the broad issue of football banning orders, it would be remiss not to put on record the fact that they have been hugely successful, not least in managing the behaviour of English fans at the World cup in Germany in the summer. It is therefore appropriate to tweak...

Although these amendments are gathered under the general heading of ““Weapons etc.””, they have some important separate dimensions. I will therefore spend a little time discussing the distinct groups of amendments covered by the heading. Amendments Nos. 33 to 38 relate to the new offence of using someone to mind...

Although these amendments are gathered under the general heading of ““Weapons etc.””, they have some important separate dimensions. I will therefore spend a little time discussing the distinct groups of amendments covered by the heading. Amendments Nos. 33 to 38 relate to the new offence of using someone to mind...

Proposed new section 96B(10), which would be inserted by Lords amendment No. 69, says:"““‘senior police officer’ means a constable of the rank of superintendent or above.””" Is there a reason for choosing superintendent, or could many police forces consider a chief inspector, or a detective chief inspector, a ““senior police...

Proposed new section 96B(10), which would be inserted by Lords amendment No. 69, says:"““‘senior police officer’ means a constable of the rank of superintendent or above.””" Is there a reason for choosing superintendent, or could many police forces consider a chief inspector, or a detective chief inspector, a ““senior police...

I welcome Lords amendment No. 69, and I am slightly at odds with my hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert). The Lords amendment is familiar, because in many ways it resembles a private Member’s Bill that I introduced, as well as amendments that I tabled...

I welcome Lords amendment No. 69, and I am slightly at odds with my hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert). The Lords amendment is familiar, because in many ways it resembles a private Member’s Bill that I introduced, as well as amendments that I tabled...

I agree with the Minister that the amendments are more than just technical, and some of them are on important issues. I shall highlight just four. First, I should mention Lords amendments Nos. 67 and 68 on ticket touting. It was anomalous that the ticket-touting legislation did not apply to...

I agree with the Minister that the amendments are more than just technical, and some of them are on important issues. I shall highlight just four. First, I should mention Lords amendments Nos. 67 and 68 on ticket touting. It was anomalous that the ticket-touting legislation did not apply to...

That is a fair point. My understanding is that the provision gives an appropriate definition of ““senior police officer”” that is readily accepted across the piece in policing matters, and in legislation. If there is any other specific reason for defining the term in that way, I will come back...

That is a fair point. My understanding is that the provision gives an appropriate definition of ““senior police officer”” that is readily accepted across the piece in policing matters, and in legislation. If there is any other specific reason for defining the term in that way, I will come back...

That decision was clearly nonsense, and I would expect everyone on either side of the Chamber to regard it as such. The law is brought into disrepute by such cases. I ask the Minister to ensure that, when people are caught carrying knives, they appear before a judge or magistrate,...

That decision was clearly nonsense, and I would expect everyone on either side of the Chamber to regard it as such. The law is brought into disrepute by such cases. I ask the Minister to ensure that, when people are caught carrying knives, they appear before a judge or magistrate,...

My hon. Friend mentions the subject of knives in school. He probably knows of the case in which Greenwich council was forced to pay £11,000 to a boy who was expelled for taking a knife to school. The council was ordered to pay his mother compensation because of the anxiety...

My hon. Friend mentions the subject of knives in school. He probably knows of the case in which Greenwich council was forced to pay £11,000 to a boy who was expelled for taking a knife to school. The council was ordered to pay his mother compensation because of the anxiety...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

First, I thank the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) for his full and generous welcome for the amendments. I shall try to ignore what were, in general, rather flaccid and petty attempts at making party political points. They were entirely unnecessary, given that the House broadly...

First, I thank the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) for his full and generous welcome for the amendments. I shall try to ignore what were, in general, rather flaccid and petty attempts at making party political points. They were entirely unnecessary, given that the House broadly...

As one who was relieved of his walkman 25 years ago by someone claiming to have a knife, this issue is rather close to my heart. He did not actually show me the knife, but I was not going to hang around to see it, so I passed over my...

As one who was relieved of his walkman 25 years ago by someone claiming to have a knife, this issue is rather close to my heart. He did not actually show me the knife, but I was not going to hang around to see it, so I passed over my...

I congratulate the Government on introducing the measures, particularly those concerning the carrying of knives, but like my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Malins), I suspect that we will have to revisit and increase the maximum sentence for carrying a knife in due course. I want to make...

I congratulate the Government on introducing the measures, particularly those concerning the carrying of knives, but like my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Malins), I suspect that we will have to revisit and increase the maximum sentence for carrying a knife in due course. I want to make...

I certainly did see that survey, and much of the problem stems from the fear of what might happen if we do intervene. There have been some well-publicised cases in the past few months of young men and others with a community-minded spirit challenging local youths and ending up dead....

I certainly did see that survey, and much of the problem stems from the fear of what might happen if we do intervene. There have been some well-publicised cases in the past few months of young men and others with a community-minded spirit challenging local youths and ending up dead....

Is my hon. Friend aware of last week’s survey showing that people in this country are only half as willing as people in other European countries, such as Germany, to challenge those involved in antisocial behaviour? The reason for that is the stupidity of political correctness, which means that victims...

Is my hon. Friend aware of last week’s survey showing that people in this country are only half as willing as people in other European countries, such as Germany, to challenge those involved in antisocial behaviour? The reason for that is the stupidity of political correctness, which means that victims...

I want to say a few words about amendment No. 48, which relates to knives. As the Minister knows, I sit part-time as a Crown court recorder and as a district judge in courts across London. The single most prevalent crime, which is growing and growing and growing, is that...

I want to say a few words about amendment No. 48, which relates to knives. As the Minister knows, I sit part-time as a Crown court recorder and as a district judge in courts across London. The single most prevalent crime, which is growing and growing and growing, is that...

My hon. Friend makes a good point, which I will come to later. It is a shame that the Government could not bring themselves to vote positively on Opposition amendments at an earlier stage, but I am glad that the strengthened sentence for such a serious and prevalent criminal offence...

My hon. Friend makes a good point, which I will come to later. It is a shame that the Government could not bring themselves to vote positively on Opposition amendments at an earlier stage, but I am glad that the strengthened sentence for such a serious and prevalent criminal offence...

Does my hon. Friend agree that a longer sentence can be passed for stealing a bike than for being caught in possession of a knife in a public place, so there is something still fundamentally wrong with the Government’s priorities? Does she further agree that more needs to be done...

Does my hon. Friend agree that a longer sentence can be passed for stealing a bike than for being caught in possession of a knife in a public place, so there is something still fundamentally wrong with the Government’s priorities? Does she further agree that more needs to be done...

The amendments on increasing the sentence for carrying a knife or a bladed article in a public place are extremely significant. On Second Reading, my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten), who is no longer in his place, pointed out that, while carrying a gun carries a tariff...

The amendments on increasing the sentence for carrying a knife or a bladed article in a public place are extremely significant. On Second Reading, my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten), who is no longer in his place, pointed out that, while carrying a gun carries a tariff...