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Policing and Crime Bill

The trouble is that there is a real possibility that the provisions could be used as an easy way out by police who are finding it difficult to gather sufficient evidence for the prosecution of dangerous gang members. Alternatively, injunctions could be used as an inappropriately disproportionate and extreme response to vulnerable children who need support—we have already discussed the matter this afternoon. I know that it is dangerous for a shadow Minister to take on the JCHR—we do so at our peril. However, I agree with the Minister and my noble and learned friend Lord Lyell—I am afraid that we on these Benches cannot agree that injunctions should be applied only to over-18 year-olds. Gang violence, tragically, affects children and young adults, too; but great care must be taken to ensure that injunctions are applied only with discretion in these cases. I shall listen very carefully to what the Minister says in response to my noble and learned friend Lord Lyell and may come back should I feel it necessary.