Clause 10 - Available amount
Proceeds of Crime Bill
4:45 pm
Mr Norman Baker (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
I do not know what the Minister had to eat, but he has come back from lunch somewhat energised.
The Minister tried to address the issues, and I give him credit for that. I am the first to admit that there is a concern that, if we build exceptions and safeguards into the legislation, we run the risk of weakening it. That is a fact, but safeguards are sometimes necessary. The most efficient method would be to lock up everyone in sight, so that we are bound to catch all the criminals. You would catch lots of innocent people as well, so you have to have a system for differentiating between those whom you want to catch and those who are innocent.