Clause 4 - Variation or discharge of orders
Violent Crime Reduction Bill
5:00 pm
Hazel Blears (Minister of State (Policing, Security and Community Safety), Home Office; Salford, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman, from his extensive court experience, will know that where there is an abuse of the process of the court, there is provision for action to be taken. If applications are made in a frivolous and vexatious way, the courts will be able to deal with them. We are considering a perfectly sensible provision that the order ought to operate for a minimum period, but that people ought to be able to apply to vary it. We want to get the balance right between the rights of people subject to such orders and the need to protect the community. This procedure provides that correct balance while ensuring that there is no abuse of the process of the court, and that the order has time to take effect to change the behaviour of the person who is the subject of the order.