§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him by the National Association of Licensed House Managers about violent assaults in the managers of public houses; if he will consider introducing legislation to increase the penalties for such assaults; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonI received a deputation from the Association on 12th March 1975 to discuss with it the problem of assaults on licensees. The association's main proposal was that magistrates' courts should have power on convicting a person of an assault committed on licensed premises to disqualify him for a fixed period from entering licensed premises. For the reasons I gave in replying to the debate on the Adjournment of the House on 27th November 1975—[Vol. 901, c. 1184–5]—we are not persuaded that such a mose would have the effect which its advocates claim for it. Existing penalties for offences of assault, and for other crimes of violence, ire in general already very substantial and we have at present no plans to increase them further. We shall, however, consider carefully any recommendations on the level of penalties which may in due course be made by the Criminal Law Revision Committee, which is at present reviewing the law of offences against the person.