SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 1988
6
PUBLIC VIEWS ON LOITERING LAW SOUGHT
* *
THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION'S SUB-COMMITTEE ON CALLING FOR PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE LAW OF LOITERING.
LOITERING IS
MRS ROSANNA INCLUDING INTERESTED BODIES
THE SUB-COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY COMMISSION MEMBER, TAM, HAS WRITTEN TO MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS CIVIC AFFAIRS GROUPS, DISTRICT BOARDS AND OTHER TO SEEK THEIR VIEWS ON THE LAW.
PUBLIC AND EXPRESS THEIR
MRS TAM TODAY (SUNDAY) ALSO URGED MEMBERS OF THE ANY OTHER GROUPS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT то VIEWS BY WRITING TO THE SUB-COMMITTEE.
IN A LETTER TO THE VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS WHOSE OPINIONS WILL BE CANVASSED, THE SECRETARY OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE SAID: 'APART VIEWS
FROM OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, THE MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE
THE WISH TO GATHER THE OPINIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.
"THE VIEWS OF YOUR MEMBERS ON THE SUBJECT, OR INDIVIDUAL, WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED."
ALSO
WHETHER
COLLECTIVE
IT IS POLICE.
AN IMPORTANT BUT IT HAS
OF THE
THE LAW ON LOITERING WAS AMENDED IN 1979. CRIME PREVENTION MEASURE NOW WIDELY USED BY THE ALSO BEEN CRITICISED, PARTICULARLY BY SOME MEMBERS PROFESSION, ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE LAW ENCROACHES INDIVIDUAL'S COMMON LAW RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS WHICH MIGHT INCRIMINATE HIM.
LEGAL ON THE
то REFUSE ΤΟ
17, 1987 THE LAW REFORM SECTION 160 OF
IT WAS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT ON NOVEMBER CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED THE COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE LOITERING LAW CONTAINED IN THE CRIMES ORDINANCE.
OF
SHOULD BE
THE SUB-COMMITTEE WAS THEN FORMED TO LOOK INTO THE QUESTION WHETHER THE LAW RELATING ΤΟ THE OFFENCES OF LOITERING AMENDED, AND, IF SO WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FEBRUARY 22, 1988.
THE LAW IN EFFECT CREATES THREE DISTINCT OFFENCES OF IN A PUBLIC PLACE OR IN THE COMMON PARTS OF A BUILDING.
LOITERING
SECTION 160 (2) AND (3) ARE CONCERNED RESPECTIVELY LOTTERING ASSOCIATED WITH WILFUL OBSTRUCTION TO ANOTHER WHICH
REASONABLE CONCERN FOR ANOTHER PERSON'S
CAUSES
WELL-BEING.
PERSON
WITH
OR
SAFETY OR
RISE TO MORE DIFFICULTIES
"SUBSECTION (1) IS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PROVISION
OF INTERPRETATION THAN THE
AND GIVES
OTHERS,
SAID
THE SECRETARY.
/AN OFFENDER