Part of Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 5:15 pm on 16 October 2007.
Jan Berry: Our view is that as a matter of constitutional principle it should go through magistrates. We have found in the pilot schemes that there have been some delays in imposing conditions, which makes a mockery of speedier justice. Therefore, our view is that, as in many situations, if you can get the person to a magistrates court quickly, it will have greater authority. You do not need the whole court case so you do not have the bureaucracy and all of the paperwork that goes with that. I also think that it means a little bit more to the person who is subject to the hearing.