UK Parliament / Open data

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

My Lords, I intervene with another rather silly and naive question. I ask these questions because previously sometimes the most ludicrous things have happened and we find an article in the Evening Standard about action taken during one of these demonstrations which none of us comprehends. I want to ask a very simple question. Clause 146(1) says, "““if it appears to that constable or officer that the item is being, or has been, used in connection with the commission of an offence under section 144””." What about a deckchair? If a demonstrator turned up with a deckchair, who will decide whether the chair is for sitting upon or for sleeping upon? It is in those silly little areas that stupid decisions are taken that can lead to trouble in crowds, and subsequently to violence. It can be the small things that trigger a demonstration. This is why this whole area of the Bill should have been dealt with in far greater detail than it has been, and I simply ask what might appear a naive question but may well turn into an issue at some stage.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
728 c979-80 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
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