Member

These three amendments provide the House with a choice. Amendments 75 and 77 together would simply remove the power to use reasonable force altogether. I do not believe the case has been made for the need for it, and I can see no reason why, in situations where force is required, trained police officers should not take the lead. Alternatively, Amendment 76 is an attempt to find a compromise with the Government and to try to reflect what the Government themselves have said. It would leave the reasonable force power in place, but it would restrict its use to force against items and property, not against persons. It would leave the option for force to be used against people to be used by the police under existing powers, if required. I think that very closely reflects what the Minister said in Committee about what the Government believe is required.