Clause 5 - The offence
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Mr Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Wythenshawe and Sale East, Labour)
The hon. Lady's intervention provides me with a good opportunity to say that although we focus in our discussions on fine points of law, we should always remind ourselves about moral responsibilities. In the situation that she outlines, we hope that people would act with a sense of moral responsibility about caring for people and that they would shout if they feel that things are not right and that people are not being properly looked after.
However, what we are trying to do in this clause is to set out a new offence, which deals with a very serious situation and carries a huge penalty. We need to do that with the greatest care. I am sure that hon. Members of all parties will approve of the care being taken. That is why we do not want to extend the offence too far in the way that we were invited to in the previous amendments by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome. That is why in this discussion we are emphasising the need for frequent contact.
It is a new offence and carries a stiff penalty. We believe that frequent contact is an essential element.