Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Reasonable Force, Iraqi Elections, Prime Minister/Chancellor, Making Poverty History, Prince Harry, 24 hour licenses, Olympic Bid, Mark Thatcher, Arms Embargo
Reasonable Force
Asked how the publicising of the eleven prosecuted cases was going to be handled, the PMOS replied that they would be done in such a way as to take into account sensitivities people may have surrounding them. What could be underlined, however, was that it was a law that was only applied in very rare cases, and the public had an exaggerated view about how often it was used due to high publicity surrounding some cases. It was right and proper that it was put in the correct perspective. The law did allow people to use reasonable force.
Asked what the cases would show, and if published, they would send out the opposite message to people, the PMOS said he did not want to pre-empt the Home Office would do, but from the ones available, people would think the circumstances surrounding them were very unusual and rare. The response was not one that most people would have made in such circumstances.
Asked if the numbers of people who were questioned, and also the numbers of people who were charged, but not prosecuted were going to be published, the PMOS replied that it was a matter for the Home Office to consider. The important point was that people understood what the law reflected, and what needed to be changed was not the law itself, but a misperception instead.
Asked if the Prime Minister had changed his view on the matter, as he had indicted that the law would be changed, the PMOS explained that what the Prime Minister was concerned about was the public concern. That was the reason why the police and the CPS were consulted, as their view was the problem was not the law, but the misperception that must be addressed. The law should not be changed unless it had to be changed; what should happen instead was to spell out what the law meant.
Asked what the Government’s advice to people was if they found an intruder in their home, the PMOS said they could use reasonable force in making that challenge.
Asked if therefore the Government was telling people to challenge intruders, the PMOS said people would do what they considered to be right and safe at the time. What could not be done was to create a series of hypothetical situations.
Asked what would happen if the reasonable force had been used against a burglar who was a minor, the PMOS said he would not get into hypothetical situations. The Home Office should be approached with such questions.
Asked if the use of a weapon in any circumstance was classed as reasonable force, the PMOS said what the cases would show was the sort of things that the relevant authorities believed was unreasonable. He said it would not be right to pre-empt the Home Office by disclosing details of the cases.
Asked if Sir John Stevens felt misrepresented as he was used by the Conservatives to back them, but now appeared to be backing the law, so appearing on both sides of the argument, the PMOS said he admired the journalist’s optimism. He would not be a spokesman for Sir John Stevens, nor would he be dragged into a confrontation about the Opposition. He would gracefully decline both invitations to do so! He explained that there was a real concern as a result of the Tony Martin case that people believed they would be prosecuted if they took on burglars. This was the point Sir John Stevens was highlighting, and there was a need to consult the professionals in the field to analyse what the problem was. The result was that people were confused about what the law allowed.
Iraq Elections
Asked if the UK ballot boxes were going to be sufficiently secure, given the problems in Iraqi surrounding the upcoming elections, the PMOS said necessary security would be provided, but he stressed he could not comment further on security issues.
Prime Minister/Chancellor
Asked if the Prime Minister and the Chancellor’s relationship had been raised in Cabinet, the PMOS replied: no.
Asked if the Chancellor had a copy of the Prime Minister’s speech for this afternoon’s visit, the PMOS said that normal government processes continued.
"Making Poverty History" Event
Dawn French and representatives from the "Making Poverty History" coalition would visit No10 shortly for a short photo call and conversation with the Prime Minister. This arose from the "Vicar of Dibley" programme, and called for the Government to use its chair of the G8 to make poverty history. It also wanted to ensure that whilst we contributed fully to the tsunami, it did not distract attention away from the plight of Africa. The PMOS said the Prime Minister welcomed the campaign, and fully supported it. It also played into the Chancellor’s visit to Africa, and the Government’s commitment to doubling aid to Africa, which this year would amount to £1 billion.
Prince Harry
Asked what the Prime Minister’s views were on Prince Harry’s choice of costume, the PMOS said clearly an error had been made, and that had been recognised by Prince Harry. However, it would be better that the matter continued to be dealt with by the Palace.
Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with Michael Howard that Prince Harry should make a formal apology, the PMOS said again, it was recognised there was an error, but the Palace should continue to deal with the issue.
Asked if the Prime Minister agreed that Prince Harry was "unfit for Sandhurst", the PMOS again said it was a matter for the Palace.
24 Hour Licenses
Asked whether the government was overruling some police chiefs’ views on 24 hour licensing, the PMOS said the police themselves had highlighted the problems they faced every week by a uniform "turfing out" time. Therefore, the argument was for flexible opening hours. What the law also allowed was for targeted action to be taken against the areas where there were problems, whilst at the same time, not penalising the majority of people who wanted social drinking at a time that suited them. The PMOS reminded people that the Prime Minister had said yesterday that the industry had a very small percentage of applications for a 24 hour license (1-2%), and those applications had not yet been granted yet.
Asked if Richard Caborn was wrong to suggest that the police had supported the Prime Minister, the PMOS said there were differences of view, adding that it was ACPO’s concern about uniform closing times that was the origin of this action.
Asked if Charles Clarke had given further indication about further resources from the licensing trade, as well as other sources, the PMOS said it was better that the Home Office dealt with the question. However, in terms of police resources, 12,000 extra police officers were now on the streets.
Olympic Bid
Asked if the Prime Minister thought the Olympics would go to Paris, the PMOS said the Prime Minister was fully behind the London bid, and believed it was a very good bid. The PMOS refused to comment on alleged speculation.
Mark Thatcher
Asked if the Prime Minister thought Mark Thatcher’s case should be taken further, the PMOS said it was a matter for the authorities in South Africa to deal with.
Arms Embargo
Asked if the arms embargo by China was going to be lifted, and was it being supported by the Government, the PMOS said it was a issue being discussed by our EU colleagues, but he would not give a running commentary on the discussions.
delicious
digg
facebook
