Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is defending a decision to ban the possession or wearing of gang insignia in private homes.
The provision was included in the legislation after the select committee process, meaning there was no chance for public submissions.
It’s been slammed by human rights groups, the Law Society and Opposition parties.
Mr Goldsmith says the Police asked to have that power.
“There was a potential problem with people who repeatedly flouted the legislation and were caught so what we introduced further down the line was that escalating penalty for repeat offenders so if you are convicted three times within five years of flouting the ban you will be subject to this much tougher regime where you can’t even possess it in your private capacity,” he says.
The bill is set down for its third and final reading this week.
