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Proceeding contribution from Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour) in the House of Lords on Monday, 2 July 2007. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on UK Borders Bill.


UK Borders Bill

All three agencies exercise coercive powers. The noble Lord understands that and the rest of the Committee will understand it as well, I am sure. Our view is that they ought to receive protection from a specific offence, which is described as equivalent to common assault. I do not think that there is any distinction there. The noble Lord is asking us to create one offence that is then applicable to all three agencies. That is how the legislation has been layered, in terms of the three services, but the noble Lord is right that in the end all three groups of workers will have the same level of penalty applied for an offence that is equivalent. I do not think that there is much between us here. It is just a matter of how we have got to that point. However, I understand the point that the noble Lord is making.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
693 c69GC 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Complaints Children Detainees Crimes against the person Borders Families Immigration Languages Discrimination Immigration officers Police Scotland Sentencing Training
Legislation
UK Borders Bill 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk