Clause 43
Policing and Crime Bill
11:45 am
James Brokenshire (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Hornchurch, Conservative)
To clarify the point that the Fraud Advisory Panel highlighted, I am comparing the resources that might be available to the arms of the state to launch a prosecution and to obtain all the evidence and documents mentioned by the Minister with the ability of an individual to defend that case in circumstances where a significant period has elapsed. We presumably have limitation periods for a reason, and the Minister might be able to make an argument for a period of more than 20 years, but the issue has clearly been raised with him, Why has 20 years been decided upon and why is the period of 12 years to be extended now?