Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 27:

In page 19, line 17, to delete "offence or annoyance" and substitute "serious offence or serious annoyance".

We all subscribe to the notion that no one should be allowed to cause offence or annoyance. The definition of offence or annoyance in the Bill is possibly too broad. There is a provision in the Public Order Act regarding serious offence or serious annoyance, which would suffice as a replacement for the words "offence or annoyance" on page 19 of the Bill in terms of taking the criminal offence element out of the interpretation.