Public Order Bill Debate

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Department: Home Office
Lord Sharpe of Epsom Portrait Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
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My Lords, these things are judged on a case-by-case basis. It would depend entirely on where I was, what I was doing and also the intention as described in Clause 2 of the Bill.

Lord Harris of Haringey Portrait Lord Harris of Haringey (Lab)
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My Lords, I listened with great interest to the Minister’s reply to the Committee’s discussion on this. Could he explain why, rather than trying to define all these activities—this happening, that happening and this piece of equipment and so on—has he not sought to do it in terms of intent, and a requirement that before an offence is committed intent to cause disruption is demonstrated?

Lord Sharpe of Epsom Portrait Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
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That is captured. As I say,

“A person commits an offence if they have an object with them in a place other than a dwelling with the intention that it may be used in the course of or in connection with the commission by any person of an offence under section 1”.