Clause 1 - Drinking banning orders
Violent Crime Reduction Bill
10:30 am
Sally Keeble (Northampton North, Labour)
That is not the case. As I said, I understand that if the young man had not been in public and had been a bit further up the alleyway, his behaviour would not qualify as being drunk and disorderly in a public place and would be regarded as disorderly conduct. As for the other young men, the arguments are the same as those when we discussed antisocial behaviour orders—the legislation may apply to a range of types of behaviour, and that will be tested as the powers are put in place. Obviously, the Minister cannot be too prescriptive about what behaviour is relevant, because that has to be tested in the courts.
The Bill gives the police a range of powers to use appropriately to manage a situation that is intolerable for many people and in many town centres. I say to the Liberal Democrats in particular that there is no point in putting around leaflets saying that they are opposed to disorderly behaviour and, ''Isn't it terrible what happens in the town centre?'', and then moving or supporting wrecking amendments in respect of measures that would deal with precisely those problems, which we all know exist in town centres, and with which we need to deal.