I think I understand the queries of the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, to be focused not so much on these specific amendments but rather on a more general concern expressed by various Members, principally former police officers, about the need for, and scope of, this offence. I think I can recall that meetings took place attended by the noble Lord, Lord Blair, and the then Home Office Minister, my noble friend Lord Taylor, in which there were discussions about the need for this offence and the Government’s thinking behind it.
This is not—I mention this because the noble Lord referred to it—a specific response to “plebgate”, the full details of which have still not been revealed. This is rather the Government’s response to the sad fact that there has been corruption in the police force, and as he so rightly says we expect, and for the most part receive, very high standards from the police. Nonetheless, the Government think it is important that we set out a specific offence. The old offence of misconduct in public office has been in existence for many years. It is apt to cover most criminal behaviour but we consider it appropriate, in all the circumstances, to set out in a specific statutory form this offence of police corruption. I hope that prosecutions will very rarely have to rely on it but it exists, so I hope that in those circumstances the noble Lord accepts the Government’s approach to this as a whole.