More bad law to be "fixed" by COP

[Tom Thomson]

A Lords Science and Technology Committee says
"Legitimate security researchers are at risk of being criminalised as a
result of the recent amendments to the Computer Misuse Act. ... We welcome
the Minister's assurance that guidance on this point will appear later in
the summer, but urge the Crown Prosecution Service to publish this guidance
as soon as possible, so as to avoid undermining such research in the
interim."

Why is there this crazy idea that bad, downright stupid, counterproductive
legislation can be fixed with a Code of Practice and doesn't require
amendment?  

We know perfectly well from recent experience that Ministerial statements
about restricting the applicability of a law beyond what restrictions
clearly and unambiguously exist on the face of the law are completely
worthless, since the various authorities which use/enforce the law can
ignore such statements with impunity.  Why should we imagine that if Mr
Croaker approves a Code of Practice it will have any real effect? 

M.