Anti-social Behaviour Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 5:00 pm ar 20 Mai 2003.
Mr James Cran
Ceidwadwyr, Beverley and Holderness
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:
Government amendment No. 184.
Bob Ainsworth
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Clause 51 gives powers to community support officers and selected accredited persons to issue fixed penalty notices for graffiti and fly posting. As Members of the Committee know, those members of the extended police family were established under the Police Reform Act 2002. The amendments clarify the references to the relevant provisions of that Act.
Mr Nick Hawkins
Ceidwadwyr, Surrey Heath
The Minister knows our concern, because we have debated it many times. People would prefer to see more police officers, rather than community support officers. We do not have a problem with the Government amendments, because we understand that community support officers exist and it is sensible that the powers are to be extended to what the Government call police civilians. However, we hope that the Government will listen to us when we debate these matters in other parts of the legislation in due course.
Annette Brooke
Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
I rise because we have concerns about all fixed penalty notices. The Liberal Democrats are concerned about private employees having such powers, albeit on private land. Will all accredited officers, including Tesco-style police, come under the jurisdiction of the local authority or the police?
Bob Ainsworth
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
All accredited schemes must be approved by the local commander. That covers the individuals, and their powers.
Annette Brooke
Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
I thank the Minister for his response. We have been over this ground before, but our concerns remain. We would prefer accredited officers to be employed by the local authority and the police through a mechanism that would tie them in. If that were case, we would not have all sorts of people issuing penalty notices. It is generally sensible to make use of community support officers on minor issues, which give so much irritation in the community.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendment made: No. 184, in
clause 51, page 38, line 22, leave out 'that subparagraph' and insert 'subparagraph (2)(b)'.-[Mr. Bob Ainsworth.]
Clause 51, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 52 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Further consideration adjourned.-[Mr. Heppell.]
Adjourned accordingly at fifteen minutes past Five o'clock till Thursday 22 May at ten minutes past Nine o'clock.
