To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Metropolitan Police and (b) other police force full-time equivalent police officers were working on (i) Operation Trident and (ii) Operation Sapphire in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

[139431]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Metropolitan Police and (b) other police force full-time equivalent police officers were working on (i) Operation Trident and (ii) Operation Sapphire in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

[139431]

I congratulate the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Pelling) not only on securing the debate, but on the measured way in which he stated his case. I am happy to join him in recognising the excellent work the police do to tackle crime and protect our communities, including his...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Pelling) not only on securing the debate, but on the measured way in which he stated his case. I am happy to join him in recognising the excellent work the police do to tackle crime and protect our communities, including his...

Mr. Benton, this is my first time that I have served under your chairmanship, and a great pleasure it is, too. I thank the Speaker for selecting this subject for debate and the Minister, who has a busy diary, for spending time to come to answer to this Adjournment debate....

Mr. Benton, this is my first time that I have served under your chairmanship, and a great pleasure it is, too. I thank the Speaker for selecting this subject for debate and the Minister, who has a busy diary, for spending time to come to answer to this Adjournment debate....

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on policing in Croydon.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on policing in Croydon.

My Lords, I oppose the amendment. First, new subsection (1) does not have sufficient flexibility to implement the UN protocol. For instance, as drafted, it would mean that service personnel under 18 could not deploy on overseas exercises or ships—certainly not overseas exercises outside NATO or EU states. A good...

My Lords, I oppose the amendment. First, new subsection (1) does not have sufficient flexibility to implement the UN protocol. For instance, as drafted, it would mean that service personnel under 18 could not deploy on overseas exercises or ships—certainly not overseas exercises outside NATO or EU states. A good...

My Lords, we cannot support the amendment. I believe that it would be inappropriate and unnecessarily restrictive to put such a provision in statutory form, worthy though some of the motives behind doing so may be. There are long-established and important procedures relating to under-18s, some of which the noble...

My Lords, we cannot support the amendment. I believe that it would be inappropriate and unnecessarily restrictive to put such a provision in statutory form, worthy though some of the motives behind doing so may be. There are long-established and important procedures relating to under-18s, some of which the noble...

My Lords, I may be corrected, but while going around the apprentice college at Harrogate and the subsequent training facility at Catterick, I have observed that one can be a trained soldier at 17 just as well as at 18. They have the same responsibilities. One cannot base something on...

My Lords, I may be corrected, but while going around the apprentice college at Harrogate and the subsequent training facility at Catterick, I have observed that one can be a trained soldier at 17 just as well as at 18. They have the same responsibilities. One cannot base something on...

My Lords, I listened carefully to the noble Lord, Lord Garden, presenting and explaining his amendment. When I looked at it before he spoke, it seemed like a multiple independent military vehicle. First, it says clearly in subsection (1), "““under the age of 18””." I was not aware until my...

My Lords, I listened carefully to the noble Lord, Lord Garden, presenting and explaining his amendment. When I looked at it before he spoke, it seemed like a multiple independent military vehicle. First, it says clearly in subsection (1), "““under the age of 18””." I was not aware until my...

My Lords, the Minister will be unsurprised that I have not been reassured by his reiteration of the Government’s position. Various noble Lords explained why it is difficult to do the things that this amendment requires. It is certainly difficult, but there is an international perspective that 18 is the...

My Lords, the Minister will be unsurprised that I have not been reassured by his reiteration of the Government’s position. Various noble Lords explained why it is difficult to do the things that this amendment requires. It is certainly difficult, but there is an international perspective that 18 is the...

My Lords, before turning to Amendment No. 6, I want to say that during our most useful debate in Committee, the noble Lord, Lord Garden, mentioned that I may have been mistaken in referring to recruits under the age of 18 at Harrogate. Of course, he was quite correct in...

My Lords, before turning to Amendment No. 6, I want to say that during our most useful debate in Committee, the noble Lord, Lord Garden, mentioned that I may have been mistaken in referring to recruits under the age of 18 at Harrogate. Of course, he was quite correct in...

My Lords, I shall be brief. We now know, as the noble Lord, Lord Drayson, said on 12 October, that arrangements for these flights are, "““part of the normal arrangements between states””.—[Official Report, 12/10/06; col. 440.]" We also know, from the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland of Asthal, on 18 October...

My Lords, I shall be brief. We now know, as the noble Lord, Lord Drayson, said on 12 October, that arrangements for these flights are, "““part of the normal arrangements between states””.—[Official Report, 12/10/06; col. 440.]" We also know, from the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland of Asthal, on 18 October...

moved Amendment No. 7: After Clause 359, insert the following new clause- ““FLIGHTS BY FOREIGN AIRCRAFTS AT MILITARY AIRFIELDS (1) The Defence Council may by regulations make provision for the handling of foreign aircraft at military facilities, to ensure that such aircraft are complying with United Kingdom legal requirements and...

moved Amendment No. 7: After Clause 359, insert the following new clause- ““FLIGHTS BY FOREIGN AIRCRAFTS AT MILITARY AIRFIELDS (1) The Defence Council may by regulations make provision for the handling of foreign aircraft at military facilities, to ensure that such aircraft are complying with United Kingdom legal requirements and...

moved Amendment No. 6: After Clause 340, insert the following new clause- ““SPECIAL PROVISION FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (1) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to serve in combat areas. (2) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to...

moved Amendment No. 6: After Clause 340, insert the following new clause- ““SPECIAL PROVISION FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (1) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to serve in combat areas. (2) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to...

My Lords, the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, has pointed out the gap or hole in the Bill. In response, the Minister pointed to the fact that a juvenile will be dealt with by a single judge advocate who has the powers of a judge in a youth court. Does that...

My Lords, the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, has pointed out the gap or hole in the Bill. In response, the Minister pointed to the fact that a juvenile will be dealt with by a single judge advocate who has the powers of a judge in a youth court. Does that...

My Lords, Amendment No. 5 would prevent civilians who are under 18 years of age from being tried before the court martial. On24 October, the European Court of Human Rights gave its judgment in the case of Martin. We need to be clear about what it decided. The case was...

My Lords, Amendment No. 5 would prevent civilians who are under 18 years of age from being tried before the court martial. On24 October, the European Court of Human Rights gave its judgment in the case of Martin. We need to be clear about what it decided. The case was...

My Lords, the noble Lord said that I was suggesting that the court-martial system was deficient. Your Lordships might not take it from me, but you might take it from the unanimous decision of the European Court of Human Rights, pronounced a fortnight ago. It said that it was impossible...

My Lords, the noble Lord said that I was suggesting that the court-martial system was deficient. Your Lordships might not take it from me, but you might take it from the unanimous decision of the European Court of Human Rights, pronounced a fortnight ago. It said that it was impossible...

My Lords, in our earlier debates, the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, sought to prevent this Bill extending the jurisdiction of the military criminal justice system in relation to most serious offences committed in the United Kingdom. He argued for retaining the current legislative position and proposed an amendment...

My Lords, in our earlier debates, the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, sought to prevent this Bill extending the jurisdiction of the military criminal justice system in relation to most serious offences committed in the United Kingdom. He argued for retaining the current legislative position and proposed an amendment...

My Lords, the military in Scotland will be subject to the Bill. It will be open to the Director of Service Prosecutions to determine that an offence of murder committed in Scotland by a serviceman or a civilian subject to service law can be tried by a court martial.

My Lords, the military in Scotland will be subject to the Bill. It will be open to the Director of Service Prosecutions to determine that an offence of murder committed in Scotland by a serviceman or a civilian subject to service law can be tried by a court martial.

My Lords, I am a near neighbour of my noble friend Lady Carnegy. There is a very well known military establishment in the county of Angus and several other military establishments. What is the situation? Could the noble Lord clarify it?

My Lords, I am a near neighbour of my noble friend Lady Carnegy. There is a very well known military establishment in the county of Angus and several other military establishments. What is the situation? Could the noble Lord clarify it?

My Lords, I remind the House of my interest as a serving TA officer. I have a lot of sympathy for this amendment, because I would not want to find myself on a court martial dealing with such a case. However, the amendment makes no provision for an alternative. If...

My Lords, I remind the House of my interest as a serving TA officer. I have a lot of sympathy for this amendment, because I would not want to find myself on a court martial dealing with such a case. However, the amendment makes no provision for an alternative. If...