Part of Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 16 October 2007.
Cindy Barnett: It is very difficult decision for any bench to take. As we expressed in the evidence we sent in, we think that because of concerns about doing that, which seems a very major step to take when somebody is not there in front of you, the provision might be underused and there might be an adjournment. And, as we pointed out, there is a provision in the Bill. It is not a question of someone being stopped on the streets and hauled off to prison; they have to come before a court. We are not sure that it would save a great deal of time. For that reason we are not in favour it.