§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have received injuries which have required outpatient and inpatient treatment at National Health Service hospitals since the commencement of the miners' strike; and what has been the cost to public funds.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIn the period 13 March to 22 October inclusive, 951 police officers received injuries in588W connection with the miners' strike. Information about the treatment they required is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been arrested in Wales, since the miners' strike began, as a result of activities connected with the strike; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures to indicate with what offence the persons arrested have been charged.
§ Mr. Giles ShawBetween 13 March and 16 October inclusive 459 arrests were made in Wales in connection with events arising from the miners' dispute. Four hundred and fifty-two of those arrested were subsequently charged with offences as set out in the table below:
Offence Number of charges Section 5 of the Public Order Act (conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace) 150 Obstruction of a police constable 130 Obstruction of the highway 117 Criminal damage 130 Assault on a police constable 13 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm 5 Railway offences 7 Attempted criminal damage 1 Offensive weapon 1 Other offences 10 Total 564
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, other than those engaged in picketing, have been arrested since the start of the miners' strike in relation to events arising out of the strike; and with what offences they have been charged.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe information available centrally does not distinguish between those arrested while picketing and those arrested elsewhere in connection with the dispute. In total, for the period 13 March to 22 October inclusinve 7,401 people had been arrested in connection with events arising from the miners' dispute.
The latest information available centrally about the charges brought relates to the period 13 March to 16 October inclusive and is as follows:
589W
Offence Number of charges Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936 (conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace) 3,162 Obstruction of a police constable 1,507 Obstruction of the highway 579 Criminal damage 672 Criminal damage with intent to endanger life 4 Arson 9 Assaulting a police constable 258 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm 277 Grievious bodily harm 29 Theft 119 Resisting arrest 17 Offensive weapon 34 Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 217 Burglary 8 Handling stolen property 1 Drug offence 1 Breach of the peace 112 Breach of bail conditions 28 Attempt (various offences) 17 Drunkenness 56 Unlawful assembly 492
Offence Number of charges Railway offences 17 Affray 21 Riot 128 Incitement 1 Reckless driving 12 Threats/conspiracy to cause damage 12 Explosives offence 3 Threats to kill 3 Other offences 118 Total 7,914
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special instructions have been issued to chief constables concerning the implementation of criminal sanctions against striking miners, working miners and lorry drivers in relation to events connected with the miners' strike.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNone.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority he asked the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, at a meeting on 27 March, to advise chief constables that financial considerations should not influence the operational discharge of their duties in connection with the miners' strike.
§ Mr. Giles ShawUnder the Police Act 1964 and by virtue of my right hon. and learned Friend's general responsibility for the maintenance of law and order.