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Human Rights

Obviously, we must listen to the police when they talk about what powers they feel they need, but we must go back to what the hon. Member for Hendon said, which I think my hon. Friend agrees with, about the key point being that the powers should be narrowly drawn. They should not be over-broad, and should be specific to the need. We should not rely on the rather odd argument that the police can be given sweeping powers—but that it would be unlawful for them to use them contrary to the Human Rights Act 1998, and therefore it does not really matter that they are sweeping.