Clause 5 - Orders on conviction in criminal proceedings
Violent Crime Reduction Bill
5:00 pm
Humfrey Malins (Shadow Minister, (Assisted By Shadow Law Officers); Woking, Conservative)
I think that I am to speak to amendments 20 and 21, which relate to clause 6. Clearly, I will not be speaking on them at that stage, but they are probing amendments to clause 6, where it states that
''the court may further adjourn the proceedings or may issue a warrant for his arrest.''
I am simply trying to toughen it up a bit. I do not think that the Minister will accept the amendment but it is an opportunity for me to say that courts are too reluctant to issue warrants for people's arrest when they fail to answer to their bail. [Interruption.] I understand that other matters are going on outside the Room, but I realise that everybody present is listening with the greatest interest to what I say.