XN000022-1990-10-17 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990

NO RELAXATION IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

THE

ALISTAIR FOR SECURITY, THE HON SECRETARY

THE THAT

INTRODUCTION OF THE ASSURED (WEDNESDAY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 DOES NOT REPRESENT A RELAXATION IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.

THE

MANDATORY

TODAY ASPREY PUBLIC ORDER

GOVERNMENT'S

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR ASPREY EXPLAINED THAT

OF SECTION TO REPEAL THOSE PARTS

33(2) OF THE BILL SOUGHT

MINIMUM SENTENCE OF WHICH PROVIDED FOR A ORDINANCE

OF BEING IN IMPRISONMENT OR A SENTENCE OF CANING FOR THE OFFENCE POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE.

THE

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO REPEAL SECTION 33(2A) WHICH ENABLED COURTS TO EXERCISE THE POWERS CONFERRED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE TO ISSUE DETENTION ORDERS IN RESPECT OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF A SECTION 33 OFFENCE.

"THIS PROVISION BECOMES REDUNDANT ONCE MANDATORY SENTENCES

MR ASPREY SAID. REMOVED FOR SECTION 33 OFFENCES,"

ARE

OF THE MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT, SECTION 33(2)

A IMPOSE

MANDATORY PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE REQUIRED THE COURTS TO SENTENCE OF CANING OR IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN SIX MONTHS ON ANY PERSON AGED 14 YEARS OR OVER CONVICTED OF BEING IN POSSESSION OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE.

OF AN

UNDER 17 "THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS ARE THAT YOUNG PERSONS

AND YEARS OF AGE MAY BE SENTENCED TO DETENTION IN A TRAINING CENTRE,

DETENTION IN A PERSONS UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE MAY BE SENTENCED TO DETENTION CENTRE," HE SAID.

HE

POINTED

(REPEAL)}

OUT

THIS

YEAR, INTO THE

THE

CORPORAL LEGISLATIVE

AWARD SENTENCES OF

11 ON JULY THAT BILL 1990 WAS INTRODUCED PUNISHMENT COUNCIL TO REMOVE FROM THE COURTS THE POWER TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

"RETENTION OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENCES UNDER SECTION 33 AND THE OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE WOULD THEREFORE BE AN ANOMALY, BILL PROVIDES THAT CANING SHOULD NO LONGER BE A SENTENCING OPTION, SAID.

75

HE

SENTENCE

MR ASPREY SAID IF THE POWER OF THE COURTS TO AWARD A

THE COURTS WOULD IN MOST OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ALONE WERE REMOVED,

SENTENCE ON CASES BE REQUIRED TO IMPOSE A MANDATORY MINIMUM PRISON PERSONS CONVICTED OF AN OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 33 OF THE ORDINANCE.

"THE RETENTION OF A MANDATORY PRISON SENTENCE FOR THIS OFFENCE OF HAS HOWEVER BEEN WIDELY CRITICISED BECAUSE IT DEPRIVES THE COURTS THE OPPORTUNITY OF TAILORING SENTENCES TO THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENCES AND OFFENDERS.

"THE BILL THEREFORE ALSO REMOVES FROM SECTION 33 THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO A MANDATORY SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT," HE SAID.

/MR ASPREY