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Policing and Crime Bill

My Lords, I assure your Lordships’ Committee that there is absolutely no way, in any possible sense, that we could support any weakening of the expected standard of behaviour of the police. We have had several discussions already over time in Committee on this Bill on the appropriate consequences of what appears to be inappropriate behaviour during police action. I hope that the Minister will be able to take this opportunity to add to his reassurances during those debates and respond fully to the concerns of the noble Lord, Lord Lester. We certainly hope that the 2003 Act has in no way led to any greater leniency for police officers than was previously the case. I accept that I am on slightly dangerous ground here, but would not the noble Lord’s amendment establish an unprecedented distinction in the civil court between classes of defendant; namely, an officer of police and the ordinary citizen? I am sure that the Minister is better qualified to pronounce on that than I am, and I look forward to hearing his response.