New Clause 1 - Causing or allowing a child or vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:00 am on 22 June 2011.

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‘(1) Section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) in paragraph (a), after “dies” insert “or suffers serious physical harm”;

(b) in paragraph (d), for “V’s death” substitute “the death or serious physical harm”.

(3) In subsection (3)(a), for “V’s death” substitute “the death or serious physical harm”.

(4) In subsection (4)(b), for “V’s death” substitute “the death or serious physical harm”.

(5) In subsection (7), after “this section” insert “of causing or allowing a person’s death”.

(6) After that subsection insert—

“(8) A person guilty of an offence under this section of causing or allowing a person to suffer serious physical harm is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine, or to both.”

(7) The italic heading before section 5 becomes “Causing or allowing a child or vulnerable adult to die or suffer serious physical harm”.

(8) The amendments made by this section do not apply in relation to any harm resulting from an act that occurs, or so much of an act as occurs, before the commencement of this section.’.—(Mr Blunt.)

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.

Domestic Violence

violence occurring within the family

Amendment

As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.

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Clause

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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.