Clause 19 - Seized evidence
Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome, Liberal Democrat)
I am grateful to the Minister for considering the issue. His response addresses part of it, but the core intent of the investigation also bothers me. The member of the investigating team can secure evidence for the purposes of investigating the specific crime to which it relates. As I read it, however, there must be a second request to pass that evidence to a court under another jurisdiction so that proceedings can take place. What bothers me is the introduction of a two-stage process where a one-stage process would suffice. I may be misreading the clause, but that is how I interpret it.