Clause 5 - The offence
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Mr David Heath (Shadow Minister (Home Affairs), Home Affairs; Somerton and Frome, Liberal Democrat)
We are talking not only about adults but about children in the context of the clause. We are not talking only about those who are of sound mind and have the mental capacity to draw proper inferences, who are covered by this area of the Bill, or about those who have the luxury of domestic circumstances in which they are free from fear and coercion. There is every expectation that the courts will deal fairly with people, and I do not believe it unreasonable to ask a court so to do.