Member

Finally, Lords amendment 97 concerns the DWP’s authorised investigators’ use of reasonable force. I begin by reminding the House that the powers of search and seizure are intended to be used by expert DWP staff, trained to industry standards, to tackle only serious and organised crime against the DWP. While I understand the intent of the other place, I again cannot accept the amendment. The use of reasonable force is set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. That governs all bodies exercising that power, to ensure a single, consistent framework. It does not distinguish between use of force against items, and use of force against persons. We cannot break down section 117 of PACE, and there is no precedent in PACE for specifying where, or on what, reasonable force may be applied.