Clause 3 - Closure order: enforcement
Anti-social Behaviour Bill
5:30 pm
Ms Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
Amendments Nos. 131 and 132 are designed to probe the Minister for more information. My concern is about the idea of a
''constable or an authorised person'',
particularly when they enter a premises in respect of which an order is made. In our previous discussion, we were concerned about a local authority imposing a closure order, and it could be dangerous for someone to walk into the premises that we have discussed. I am rerunning some of a debate that I have previously had with the Minister when all Opposition Members had concerns about the powers given to community support and safety officers in dangerous situations. Are we talking about local authority workers? I would be concerned about their walking into a dangerous situation.
I should explain amendment No. 132, as it has taken me some time to get my head round it. The concern follows on from the idea of the authorised person. In particular, we are concerned about the application of subsection (2)(b) by an authorised person rather than a constable or other police officer. I will leave my comments at that. The amendments are probing, but I have deep concerns about an ''authorised person'' being put in a dangerous situation without having the training necessary to deal with it.