Yes. Thank you for that post:
I spotted the loophole too. Also, spotted that trundling procedures through Palaces of Westminster will take forever, and a date for implementation could be set years ahead, then the UK's customarily inert, supine, purported enforcers of law will do a lot of nothing.
On Radio 4 this morning, Harriet Harman was proposing a far better way of dealing with matters involving technology, which can change hourly. Roughly, she advocates the politicians should delegate powers to take action at once, in line with general intentions of parliament.
A mixed- party group should be in charge, not an individual.
In fact, switching all legislation from laborious detail, into an agreed intention, would avoid other undesirable loophole- seeking, in all areas of law.
In everything, the enforcement is all- important: e.g.. If nobody bothers to check the water quality is dangerously contaminated, or that abuse is rife in old people's homes, or whatever, then there is not any point in even having laws piously stating this is not what Parliament approves of.
If any whistle- blower is sacked, or if any penalty is trivial, then the stated intention of Parliament is being thwarted, not only by the direct offenders, but also by the officials who have failed enforce, failed to inspect, failed to prosecute or to defend, as appropriate.
And, if they have failed to ensure the punishments are updated, enough to be feared and to result in the desired reduction of offending.
It would also seem that the enforcers, as well as the offenders, must risk serious sanctions.
The non- whistle - blowers, too, must risk being jointly charged, and automatically sacked, because they effectively collude with what they reasonably must be deemed to have known about, if they do not report it.
There is already some kind of Crime Stopper help line, enabling anonymous reporting, which would give protection to those who have reported crime, malfeasance in public office, dangerous or reckless behaviour, improper influence, wasteful squandering of funds, or other crime or borderline criminal activities they know about. Apparently, the caller will get a reference number, so that would ensure they keep out of jail, if their fellow surgeon is convicted, or whatever it is that needs to be on record.