Clause 1 - Offences leading to penalties on the spot
Criminal Justice and Police Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the biggest concerns that many commentators—not merely the Criminal Bar Association but a number of other organisations concerned with the administration of justice—have stressed regarding the Government's proposals, is that they will lead to a downgrading of a significant part of the criminal law. In effect, they are a move towards decriminalisation. Would that not be a most worrying and dangerous trend if the Government were allowed to proceed with it?