§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce modifications to the law to empower police to take positive steps to arrest and convict child abusers who entrap children into prostitution. [27175]
§ Mr. MichaelWe are very concerned about the existence of child prostitution and the tragedy of the involvement of any child in prostitution. The principal aim of the law in this area is to protect the children concerned and to ensure that all those who
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§ Mr. MichaelI am satisfied that our proposals for establishing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The question of the compatibility of the provisions in the Crime and Disorder Bill for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders with the European Convention on Human Rights has been carefully considered by Government lawyers but it is not normal practice to publish legal advice and we see no reason to breach this principle in this case.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1998,Official Report, columns 66–67, on the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords], if he will make a statement on the compatibility of the proposed legal procedure for the Anti-social Behaviour Order in the Bill with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [27678]
§ Mr. MichaelWe consider that the legal procedure for the Anti-Social Behaviour Orders in the Crime and Disorder Bill complies with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Application for an order is a civil procedure. An order has prohibitory force only and involves no criminal record. Breach of an order is a criminal offence and carries with it the full safeguards of the criminal law.