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Bill: Law and Order Review 4227
Details
Submitted by[?]: Patriotic Party of Baltusia
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: June 4228
Description[?]:
| Members of Congress, Following a full review of our domestic security situation I present this composite law and order bill for your approval. It is clear that just as we continue to improve and refine our armed forces we must also ensure internal security is as robust as it can be and continually expanded on for the safety of all citizens. To this end we propose the following: A complete devolvement of civilian police force powers to each of the five states, so that commissioners can better resource their local requirements and react to local issues of crime and disorder. A rethink on the law relating to the ability of groups to gather in public, under which police are currently powerless to act. A strengthening of the relationship between police and the military to provide a flexible national security team if the country is threatened by a major incident and to share best practice on training, fire arms and incident handling. Finally, I propose to make the use of cannabis as a recreational drug illegal. For too long we have turned a blind eye to the side effects of this so-called passive substance. However, too often we have heard of alarming side effects leading to mental and physical health issues, direct links to anti-social behaviour and, I am afraid to say, a growing link between cannabis addiction wider criminal activity and even terrorism. Given that existing laws also mean that cannabis cannot be sold legally in this country it begs the question: where are smokers buying it from and who is profiting from this illegal dealing? I welcome comments on each of these articles and will consider petitions before moving it to vote. Pascal Kindler Home Secretary |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change The citizens' right to assemble in public.
Old value:: There are no restrictions on the right of citizens to assemble in groups.
Current: There are no restrictions on the right of citizens to assemble in groups.
Proposed: The police may disperse a group if they believe it poses a potential risk to public safety.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The nation's policy on the separation of the police and the military.
Old value:: A civilian police force is in place and the military may be called in to help in serious emergencies.
Current: A civilian police force is in place and the military is not allowed to play any part in it.
Proposed: A civilian police force is in place, backed up by the military.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change Policy on the organization of police/law enforcement
Old value:: There is a national police department funded by the national government and there are local police departments, funded by local governments.
Current: There is a national police department funded by the national government and there are local police departments, funded by local governments.
Proposed: The operation and funding of the police is left to local governments.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change The recreational drug policy.
Old value:: The use of cannabis is legal.
Current: There are no laws regulating what citizens can put into their bodies.
Proposed: Recreational drug use is forbidden.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 23:48:34, June 16, 2017 CET | From | Baltusian Democratic Green Party (BDGP) | To | Debating the Law and Order Review 4227 |
| Message | My party would like to firstly thank the Home Secretary for his work in coming up with this review, and his findings are extremely helpful to all parties as well as the general public. The proposal to completely devolve policing to the five states is cautiously welcomed, with there being clear benefits from this course of action. However, my party has concerns over matters regarding cross-state safety, such as the protection of transport hubs, national infrastructure and highways. Would those jurisdictions also be devolved, or could there be a separate task-force specifically trained to handle these matters (OOC: like the 'British Transport Police')? Regarding the use of military to, as the Home Secretary put it, "provide a flexible national security team if the country is threatened by a major incident", surely that is included in current legislation, but under the category of 'serious emergencies'? Because of this, my party feels that a change in the current law isn't needed, and there are fears regarding the risk of future governments potentially abusing any new law. For example, they may decide to create a 'martial law-esque' environment, something that could happen under the change proposed. And finally, my party believes that one of the reasons cannabis has been shown to be harming people is because, as the Home Secretary himself said, we don't know where people are buying it from and who's profiting, meaning it's highly likely that they're adding unnecessarily harmful substances. The BDGP believes a better way to protect people would be to begin regulating the sale of cannabis, so we know exactly what's happening throughout. However, that clearly won't have the support to be passed into law during the remainder of this term, and possibly the next, so the only sensible option is to ban the use of recreational drugs outright. From my discussions with the Health and Social Services Secretary, it's clear his department would support such a proposal, so long as it didn't affect the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Other than those queries, this review and the proposals that come along with it are well thought out, and will undoubtedly help keep Baltusia safe. Miriam Heston BDGP Leader In Congress |
| Date | 12:28:00, June 17, 2017 CET | From | Patriotic Party of Baltusia | To | Debating the Law and Order Review 4227 |
| Message | Madame Heston, I thank you for your valued feedback. I can confirm that bodies such as the Baltusian Transport Police and counter intelligence and anti terror units such as BAITI will remain under national government control and continue to be directed directly from the Internal Affairs Ministry. In terms of the military back up, our thoughts are that as well as increasing safety the enhanced sharing of best practice this will bring means it is something I would like to push ahead with. I shall now put this to the vote. Pascal Kindler Home Secretary |
| Date | 12:57:05, June 17, 2017 CET | From | Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia | To | Debating the Law and Order Review 4227 |
| Message | I agree with Article 1, provided the group poses a genuine threat and is not merely preaching a hateful message (ie. a group campaigning for a racist ideology would not be dispersed unless they were threatening to harm those of another race). The use of the military to back up the police force is unnecessary except in rare circumstances and the current law allows the military to support the police in emergencies so I do not think Article 2 is necessary. I share the concerns of the BDGP as to potential issues in cross state safety, and would add that there is the issue of co-operation between the police forces. The main arguments in favor of completely devolved police services is so as that the resources can be better manged to handle local issues however we currently have devolved police services alongside a national service so I find Article 3 unnecessary. On the issue of cannabis and recreational drug use in general I would say that criminalizing drugs such as cannabis only gives more power to gangs when people pay them to purchase the drugs illegally and that makes our streets less safe, which is the opposite of what this bill is intending to create. All things considered we will vote against this bill as it is mostly unnecessary or counter-productive. Jonelle Forester (Safety Spokesperson of the Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia. |
| Date | 22:34:15, June 17, 2017 CET | From | United Democratic Party - Liberal | To | Debating the Law and Order Review 4227 |
| Message | Article 4 should be removed! |
| Date | 16:08:31, June 18, 2017 CET | From | Baltusia Parliamentary Party | To | Debating the Law and Order Review 4227 |
| Message | The BPP feels that Article 1 could be mishandled, possibly leading to a more violent situation - we need clear definitions of what a 'threat to others' entails - as brought to the fore by the Honourable member Heston. That said, we understand the requirement for devolved policing and the importance of military aid in protecting sites of national interest. Therefore, we see this Bill for its merits in these avenues and will endorse it. We further thank the Home Secretary for his efforts on producing such a thorough Bill. Mick Collins, BPP Shadow Home Secretary |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 468 | ||||
| no |
Total Seats: 167 | ||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
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