Clause 1 - Drinking banning orders
Violent Crime Reduction Bill
11:15 am
Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green, Labour)
I understand what the hon. Gentleman is saying, but does he seriously think the relevant consideration should be how much of an imposition an order would be on the behaviour of an individual? An order would be imposed because the individual's behaviour posed a threat to the public. It would be made to protect the public from that person's drunken behaviour. Does he seriously suggest that when a court applies a probation or other order, the magistrate should ask the offender, ''Would it be convenient to apply the order on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon? Would it cause you great distress if we applied it on a Friday evening, sir?'' Surely, that would turn justice and the court system on its head. If the offender's behaviour is such that the court feels it necessary to impose an order, the offender must live with the consequences, or there is no point in having a justice system.