Serious Crime Bill [HL]

My Lords, with Clause 2(2) the Government are having their cake and eating it in a remarkable way. If you commit an offence that is specified in Schedule 1, however trivial that offence on that occasion, it is none the less a serious offence. However, the Government also say, ““If we haven’t specified it but the judge thinks it’s serious, then you can have it, too””. Either one should say that the provisions can apply only to offences that in the particular circumstances are deemed to be serious, or the Government must delete paragraph (b). At the moment, as I say, the Government are having it both ways, and they should not be allowed to do so.