Clause 1 - Closure notice
Anti-social Behaviour Bill
4:30 pm
Ms Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
I think that that comment is a little unjust, as I do not use quite as many words as some members of this Committee.
In summary, amendment No. 129 has been included to allay the concerns of people who work with charities that help drug addicts and homeless people. Such organisations argue convincingly that, unless the amendments are accepted, the manager or owner of premises used for homeless people or drug rehabilitation could be more severely punished for allowing drugs to be used on the premises than the person using the drugs. As I said earlier, we must take an holistic approach, and it is important to ensure that people working in the agencies and on the various initiatives are on board.
Amendment No. 130 would ensure that innocent and vulnerable people who may lose their homes because they have become caught up in the situation but are not guilty per se have some protection and are not left homeless on the streets.
We feel strongly about amendments Nos. 129 and 130. They are not just probing amendments.