Clause 10
Counter-Terrorism Bill
12:45 pm
Tom Brake (Shadow Minister (London and the Olympics), Culture, Media & Sport; Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)
This is a probing amendment. Members familiar with the Bill will be aware that clause 11, which deals with the power to take fingerprints and samples in Scotland, is explicit in requiring a constable to get the authority of an officer of a rank no lower than inspector, whereas that is not the case for England and Wales. Clause 10 simply requires a constable’s authority to take fingerprints and samples.
I accept fully that devolution is a wonderful thing and that discrepancies arise in legislation, but I would like to understand a little better why the Government are not seeking the additional safeguards that are provided in Scotland for England and Wales. In Scotland, the authority of an officer of the rank of inspector is required to authorise the taking of fingerprints and samples.