Clause 78 - Warrant to enter premises by force
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill
11:15 am
Mr Alun Michael (Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour/Co-operative)
The simple answer is no. Let us take a proportionate response to the clause. It relates to a situation in which an
''alarm has been sounding continuously for more than twenty minutes or intermittently for more than one hour''
and in a location where it is likely to cause annoyance to persons living or working in the vicinity. Anyone who lives in the vicinity of a repeater alarm will know exactly what that means. The clause also stipulates that in a designated area
''reasonable steps have been taken to get the nominated key-holder to silence the alarm''
and that entry to the premises without force is not possible.
So, the context is reasonable. Anyone who has experienced that irritating problem will be unamused that the hon. Lady does not support the proposal. It is not a new power. Under current law, a local authority officer can enter premises by force to silence an alarm. The clause makes the procedure simpler and faster. I commend it to the Committee.