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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 6 December 2011. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Protection of Freedoms Bill.


Protection of Freedoms Bill

My Lords, perhaps I may raise two small points. They seem almost trivial in the context but they are important and, as the noble Baroness said earlier, the opportunities for this sort of discussion are limited to Committee. I appreciate that this is existing legislation in Scotland. My first point relates to proposed new subsection (4) in the amendment, which states, "““where A knows, or ought in all the circumstances to have known””." The existing Section 4(2) brings in the notion of a reasonable person. I read the existing law as objective and this proposal as being subjective, and I am not sure whether it is strong enough. My second point relates to new subsection (2) of the proposal, where it would be necessary for the course of conduct to cause ““fear or alarm””. Again, I wonder whether that is strong enough. What if the victim is a particularly resilient person? Should the person engaging in the conduct be able to do so because of the toughness of the victim?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
733 c657-8 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Children Disclosure of information Criminal records Crime Employment Licensing Further education Harassment Offenders Personal records Northern Ireland Protection Police cautions Taxis Rehabilitation Registration Vetting Vulnerable adults Young people Safety Sports Voluntary work Stalking Criminal Records Bureau
Legislation
Protection of Freedoms Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk