Clause 1 - Drinking banning orders

Part of Violent Crime Reduction Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:45 am on 13 October 2005.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Prisk Mark Prisk Shadow Minister (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) 9:45, 13 October 2005

The Minister responded to my hon. Friend the Member for Woking by saying that an ASBO would be inappropriate because of the two-year period. However, I am sure that you, Mr. Forth, will have spotted that clause 1(5) states:

“A drinking banning order has effect for ... not more than two years”.

I can envisage a scenario in which someone might be banned for 22 months under the proposed order. The difference between that and my hon. Friend’s suggestion would be a mere eight weeks. Will the Minister reflect on the fact that using existing law is often better than creating new law?