Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

I apologise to Hansard writers. This is the first time I have switched on this microphone during my appearances in Committee. When they last asked me for my notes and I had not any, I felt particularly embarrassed; hence I have now switched it on. I wish to speak briefly to Amendment No. 64C. I am conscious that the noble Baroness is not a Home Office Minister, and I am not sure that she has ever had responsibility for Home Office affairs on past occasions. I recall the police Bill which we took through in 2002. It created a new kind of constable who did not have the full powers of a constable within the police but who was available to fill a whole series of duties which were regarded as being less than wholly appropriate to a constable. My strong recollection was that under that legislation the new kind of constable—and I apologise for not being able to give the Committee the person’s correct title—was allowed to invite a person to be detained for half an hour, pending the arrival of a constable who was properly qualified to take them into, I will use the word ““care””, but in that sense I am using a euphemism. What interests me in terms of the legislation in front of us today, is that what I recall from the police Bill as being half an hour has suddenly been extended to three hours. I would be interested to know the Minister’s justification, on behalf of the Home Office, for why that change has occurred?