Clause 67 - Assistance by defendant: reduction in sentence
Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
11:00 am
Ms Caroline Flint (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (reducing organised and international crime, anti drugs co-ordination and international and European issues), Home Office; Don Valley, Labour)
The amendments ensure that the written agreements referred to in clauses 67 and 68 can only be between a specified prosecutor and the defendant. That has always been our intention, as we set out in the White Paper. The clauses do not specify with whom the defendant can enter into an agreement, and I hope that the Committee will recognise that the amendments clarify the position. Specifically, they provide that the written agreements will be between the defendant and any prosecutor specified in clause 65.
Amendment No. 169 removes the reference to custodial sentences and ensures that the court should be able to undertake a review of any sentence imposed by the Crown court.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendment made: No. 168, in clause 67, page 38, line 34, at end insert—
'(9) An agreement with a specified prosecutor may provide for assistance to be given to that prosecutor or to any other prosecutor.
(10) References to a specified prosecutor must be construed in accordance with section 65.'.—[Caroline Flint.]
Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill.