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Policing and Crime Bill

How interesting, especially toward the end, where the speed of the interventions suggests that wiser heads than mine also question whether the definition in this Bill is sufficiently tight. The noble Baroness, Lady Stern, reminded us why we have an absolute duty to make sure that it is as tight as possible. I was attracted to the expanded definition from the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale. We have something really useful that we can work on between now and Report. The Government are certainly alone in thinking that their definition is adequate at the moment. All around the Committee, I see that the rest of us feel that it is not. The right reverend Prelate raised a very interesting issue, because violence of a mental sort is what gangs normally do, and intimidation is a huge part of gang culture. We should not forget that important thing but take it into account when we are thinking of definitions. I hope that we will be able to come together and discuss the expanded Iain Duncan Smith solution to this issue—that is, if we have this clause in the Bill at all by the time we have debated its merits more fully. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 135 withdrawn. Amendments 135A and 135B not moved. House resumed.