Part of Criminal Justice Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:15 pm on 21 January 2003.
Graham Allen
Labour, Nottingham North
6:15,
21 January 2003
There may be people other than the offender whom we could think about, such as the victim—perhaps a murder victim or the victim's family, or people affected by some other horrendous crime. They, too, might consider that if someone had got away with something for two or three years there should be an additional sentence for the anguish and hurt caused. It might be difficult for a lawyer to see it in those terms, but from a victim's point of view it could be a painful and protracted experience.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
