(1 year, 6 months ago)
Lords ChamberIt is felt that certain other types of activity associated with vagrancy should be looked into, including things such as nuisance and organised begging.
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Vagrancy Act 1824 was introduced because many soldiers who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars had no employment and resorted to begging? As far as I know, from our recent war in Iraq, no vagrants are now begging. Does the Minister not think that he ought to catch up with what has happened in the last 200 years?
I thank my noble friend for the history lesson.
(1 year, 8 months ago)
Lords ChamberWould the Minister answer a question? In a situation where there is a protest preventing traffic, which is very grave and serious, and there are two people young people involved in it, if the police decided to use their power to strip and search, what would they expect to find on those two young people?
My Lords, we are debating stop and search. I am not quite sure where strip and search came into this, I am sorry.