Results 1-20 of 65 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Lord Dear

Coroners and Justice Bill: Commons Reasons and Amendments (11 Nov 2009)

Lord Dear: In another place and, I suspect, in another age, I would be sending my seconds round to the Minister at this point—but I resist that temptation. Perhaps I may read from my speaking notes accurately for a second time. I said: "The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has carefully distanced itself from the issue. It has not declared a position either publicly, or so far as I know,...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Commons Reasons and Amendments (11 Nov 2009)

Lord Dear: My Lords, in speaking in support of the noble Lord, Lord Waddington, I make a number of points in fairly quick time. Your Lordships addressed this issue in great depth and detail on 9 July this year, when the debate continued for over two hours. I do not believe that we need take that amount of time today. The facts and issues have not changed. This has nothing to do with homophobia; the law...

Water Management — Question for Short Debate (3 Nov 2009)

Lord Dear: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are putting in place regarding the management of water and the conservation of rivers.

Water Management — Question for Short Debate (3 Nov 2009)

Lord Dear: My Lords, in introducing this debate, I thank those who are going to contribute to it and declare my own position in the question of rivers and angling: I am a keen salmon fisherman; I fish also for trout—in both cases, with variable success—and I am a member of the Salmon & Trout Association. As many of us know, the European Union's water framework directiveestablishes a new...

Highways Agency: Traffic Officers — Question (20 Oct 2009)

Lord Dear: My Lords, in reality, as most of us know, traffic officers are the only uniformed presence on the roads, as police patrol vehicles are almost non-existent. Given that criminals use cars all the time on the roads, does the Minister foresee an extension of police powers to traffic officers, as discussed, or will he press for a more obvious police presence?

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (6th Day) (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Dear: I—

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (6th Day) (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Dear: I thank the Minister for giving way. I referred in my speech to the fact that ACPO had not given an official view—which is, I think, true. I am assured by those who are closely in contact with this issue that ACPO had not given an unofficial view—by which I was trying to say in code—within government as well. But ACPO has said in clear terms to me that it would prefer the...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (6th Day) (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Dear: As one of the four Members of the Committee opposing the Question that Clause 61 stand part of the Bill, I accordingly support the continuation of what is now generally referred to as the Waddington amendment, which was agreed by your Lordships about 12 months ago. I need to make a number of points immediately. Like probably everyone in your Lordships' House, I do not hold anti-homosexual...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (6th Day) (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Dear: I am grateful to the noble Lord. As my young daughter noticed all those years ago, the police are always likely to be present in those circumstances and to be drawn willy-nilly into the arguments. I brought in that reminiscence to ask where the police stand in this. Prior to your Lordships' House approving the Waddington amendment a year ago, the police and the prosecuting authorities were,...

Police: Protests — Question (21 Apr 2009)

Lord Dear: My Lords, is the Minister aware that most of the world's developed countries, when dealing with serious public disorder, do not rely solely on uniformed police in close or face-to-face contact with the demonstrators? In those countries, as we know, unrest or disorder, as it escalates, is met with other responses—CS gas, baton rounds or water cannon, and so on. In the light of that, can...

Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]: Report (1st Day) (25 Mar 2009)

Lord Dear: My Lords, in rising to speak to these amendments, I do not intend, with your Lordships' agreement, to get involved in a party-political spat. I want to comment on the place of the police within a border agency. I spoke on this in Committee on 25 February, when I supported a single all-embracing border agency, as outlined in the Stevens report, to which reference has already been made today....

Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]: Committee (Ninth Day) (16 Mar 2009)

Lord Dear: In speaking to this Amendment, which stands in my name and in that of other noble Lords, I need to remind the House that I have, for a good many years, fished for trout, sea trout and particularly salmon, and on occasions have been successful. I have also for a long time been a member of the Salmon and Trout Association. As the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, has said, the purpose of this...

Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]: Committee (1st Day) (25 Feb 2009)

Lord Dear: In supporting the amendment, I refer to my service in the police for over 30 years until about 12 or 13 years ago. I have seen enough of multidisciplinary groups trying to work together to recognise that they frequently meet with some success. However, based on the experience that I have alluded to, I have no doubt that in any grouping you are much better off if you have a number of things in...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (4 Nov 2008)

Lord Dear: My Lords, I should point out to noble Lords who are not familiar with Latin or Norman French that this is not another example of voir dire; the spelling is rather different. I shall be very brief in supporting the amendment. The case has been admirably set out by my noble and learned friend Lord Lloyd. Three reasons for supporting him are present in my mind: the amendment obviates any...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (15 Oct 2008)

Lord Dear: I hope that the Committee will also excuse me for not being in my place when the amendment was moved. I, too, was delayed unavoidably. I shall be brief, but it might be useful to put the point of view of someone who at one stage was responsible for managing some major investigations when the law on post-charge questioning was often quite opaque. I fully support what the noble and learned...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (14 Oct 2008)

Lord Dear: My Lords, I should like to pick up on a comment made by the noble Lord, Lord McNally, and refer the Minister to two short comments in the Statement made yesterday in another place by the Home Secretary. She said: "Some may take the security of Britain lightly. I do not", and: "I deeply regret that some have been prepared to ignore the terrorist threat for fear of taking a tough but necessary...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Dear: I shall take no more than two minutes of your Lordships' time. We are already approaching 11 hours of debate in your Lordships' House, if one includes the Second Reading and today's proceedings. I am most impressed with the commitment of all sides of the Committee in trying to find a solution. I am also very grateful to the three co-signatories to my amendment, who spoke so well at the...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Dear: That is the case. We are talking about the difference between being held in custody—it is no good the noble Lord shaking his head—not knowing why you are there or what the charge is and being charged and in the legal process.

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Dear: No, I will not give way. The difference is obvious. In this hypothetical case of possession of explosives, you charge immediately. I repeat myself for, I think, the third time in your Lordships' House. You charge the offence, you give access to a solicitor, and you tell what the offence is. You are into the judicial process. It is for the courts to decide whether the prosecution is delaying....

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Dear: The whole point about charging the lesser offence first is that detention without trial disappears immediately. The moment that you are charged in those circumstances, you have access to a lawyer, you know what the charge is, you are put before a court and you are in the normal judicial process. Will the noble Lord comment on that?