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Fraud Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 19:"Page 2, line 38, leave out subsection (1) and insert—" ““(1)   A person is guilty of an offence if, without lawful excuse, he has in his possession an article intending it to be used in connection with any fraud by him or by another.”” The noble Lord said: This, again, is a probing amendment and I shall be brief. Although this clause was not present in the Law Commission’s draft Bill, we welcome it, in principle, because it extends the offence of going equipped to cheat to items found at the offender’s home. However, as currently drafted, the clause is too wide. Our amendments introduce elements that would ensure that the clause was narrower in its scope by suggesting that items have to be used in connection with a fraud, adapted for use in connection with a fraud, or that a person intends to use in connection with a fraud. In that way, the clause would be properly targeted and clearly understandable. I beg to move.