Written evidence to be reported to the House

Part of Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:00 pm on 16 October 2007.

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Photo of David Burrowes David Burrowes Shadow Minister (Justice) 6:00, 16 October 2007

Is there a need for clarity in that area? I am aware of Association of Chief Police Officers’ guidance and hate incident reporting procedure.

A number of incidents have been reported over the last few years. We have received evidence of some examples, such as that concerning the Bishop of Chester, who was investigated by police for suggesting that gay people could reorientate to heterosexuality; Joe and Helen Roberts were interrogated by police over concerns about the local council’s gay rights policy; Sir Iqbal Sacranie, and so forth. Those incidents have been and are being investigated by police.

Is there a need, whether it is in legislation or in guidance, for some clarity in order to establish the areas of freedom of speech and of criminality—the mindless acts and intentional threatening acts that we would all want to outlaw?