Internees and Detainees (Hansard, 15 May 1975)

14. Mr. Wm. Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many internees and detainees have been released since the IRA truce came into effect; and whether they have been rearrested or detained because of their involvement in terrorist organisations.

§ Mr. Merlyn Rees
Since midnight on 22nd December 1974, when the IRA cease-fire began, 272 persons have been released from detention. None of these had been re-detained up to 12th May and none had been charged with any offences under the Emergency Provisions Act. Arrests do not always result in charges being brought. Police criminal record files do not state whether the person concerned is an ex-detainee. It would therefore require a disproportionate effort to check all the records to see whether any former detainees had been arrested but not charged during this period.

Mr. Ross
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that up to the end of last October, out of 1,500 persons released from detention 250 were either re-detained or charged in the courts? What has happened since 22nd December last to change this proportion? Is there evidence either that the police are not as active as they were or that the IRA is not as active as it was?

§ Mr. Rees
The hon. Gentleman will have heard the figures given earlier by my hon. Friend of the number of police arrests. The rate is a very high one. It would be wrong for the hon. Gentleman to think that the police are in any respect keeping away from former detainees. It may well be that former detainees are not involved in violence.

§ Mr. McNamara
Is my right hon. Friend aware that many Government supporters and many people in the country as a whole will congratulate him on the firmness and courage he has shown in persisting with his policy of releasing detainees? Is he aware that we look forward to the time when Long Kesh no longer contains any detainees? Whatever personal reservations we may have about internment, we welcome the steps which my right hon. Friend is taking and hope that Long Kesh will soon be empty.

§ Mr. Rees
I have referred to the 272 releases, and perhaps my hon. Friend will recall the number of detainees released by the commissioners and the smaller number released executively last year. Long Kesh—the Maze—will cease to be used as a camp for detainees only when there are no para-military organizations in Northern Ireland engaging in military activity. When that situation comes about, it will be very easy for me to end detention.

§ Mr. Neave
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, contrary to what his hon. Friend said, it is this aspect of his policy that causes the greatest apprehension to the Opposition? Is he aware that further releases may considerably endanger the situation in view of the build-up of para-military forces of a different kind from those to which the released detainees belong? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the evidence that some who are released are being retrained for this purpose?

§ Mr. Rees
If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence—I am sure he would not have said that if he had not—I shall be glad to receive it. Under the terms of legislation passed by the previous Conservative administration, during last year 361 people were released from detention at a time when the campaign was continuing. The greater number of them were released by the commissioners. When I operate the law that was passed by the Conservative administration I do not understand that when I sign an interim custody order I am creating prisoners of war. There is no prisoner-of-war status for those who are detained. Each one is dealt with on his individual merits. The House would be taking a retrograde step if it were to treat the Provisional IRA as an army and were to convict and lock up its members as if they had army status. That would be wrong and against the law which I have to operate.