Clause 10 - restraining orders: England and Wales
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
10:00 am
Lady Lady Hermon (North Down, UUP)
Is it the hon. Gentleman's view that the real reason for the Minister's skilful deflection of the amendment is that clause 10 finds itself in part 2? This is the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill; clause 10 comes under part 2, which deals with crime. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the real reason why the Minister has deflected the amendment is that restraining orders are intended to go way beyond family courts and domestic violence, and to be a sweeping broadening of the criminal law to include those who have no conviction and are going to be acquitted so that they can have a restraining order? That will completely undermine ASBOs.