Clause 42 - Offence of disclosure
Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West, Labour)
I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. He is generous in debate.
On amendment No. 150, the hon. Gentleman referred to ordinary, general principles and asked whether those ought to apply. One would not know in advance whether damage would be caused down the line. If, by the time somebody was prosecuted, it turned out that no damage had been caused, that would be substantial mitigation and it would go towards the correct penalty. If the information that no damage had been caused came sufficiently early in proceedings, it might affect the decision on whether to prosecute. Those are the ordinary, general principles. With respect, his amendment is unnecessary.