HC Deb 26 January 1977 vol 924 cc1489-92
42. Mr. Thompson

asked the Lord Advocate if he is satisfied that the police have adequate powers to bring to justice vehicle drivers from the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland who commit traffic offences in Scotland.

The Lord Advocate

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave him on 18th June 1975, when I informed him that this matter was under active consideration by a Home Office committee. The committee has not yet completed its consideration of this problem.

The problem of citing accused persons in the United Kingdom generally was considered by the Thomson Committee on Criminal Procedure in Scotland and it recommended discussions to establish a simple method of citation that would apply throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. Such discussions are now taking place.

Mr. Thompson

Is it not quite unsatisfactory that the Thomson Committee reported in October 1975 and that these discussions and negotiations are still going on? Is the Lord Advocate aware that in Dumfries and Galloway public respect for the law will diminish if so many offenders are seen to flout the law with impunity? Is he aware that this also will have an effect on police morale in that region? Will he undertake to consider carefully the report of the Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway which has been sent to the Scottish Office?

The Lord Advocate

I have in fact read the report by the chief constable, and I found it useful. I stress to the hon. Gentleman that I am very well aware of the difficulties that arise in his constituency and elsewhere on this route, which has become the Euro-route between Ireland and the Continent. Therefore, it will grow in the future.

I also stress to the hon. Gentleman that the problems are very difficult to resolve. There are two aspects that he highlights in his Question. There is the aspect relating to Northern Ireland, on the one hand, and the aspect relating to the Republic of Ireland, on the other.

The problem relating to Northern Ireland is twofold. The problem for us is the problem of drivers who go to Northern Ireland and do not come back to face criminal charges. Equally, there must be a problem in Northern Ireland the other way round. It is a bilateral problem, and the solution would probably lie in a system of citation similar to that which Scotland enjoys with regard to England and Wales. But that requires considerable consultation and agreement, and also legislation.

In the wider field of international complications—the Republic of Ireland clearly comes into that category—we must wait for an international multilateral agreement. That would obviously take even longer, and we are bound to wait for legislation.

There are possible short-term expedients, such as detaining an offender until his charge can be dealt with, but as, in the vast bulk of the cases, we are considering relatively trivial road traffic offences, the public would probably rebel against such a heavy hammer.

Mr. Monro

Is the Lord Advocate aware that we must have action before the summer tourist traffic begins? Is he further aware that the road from Stranraer to the Scottish border is clogged with Irish container traffic throughout the year? Unless the police have some control over the Irish drivers this problem can only get worse. I feel that the right hon. and learned Gentleman's answers today are far too complacent, bearing in mind the urgency of the situation.

The Lord Advocate

My answers must be couched with due modesty because in this aspect I am merely the public prosecutor. Whereas public prosecution has a rôle to play, I do not think that it can make a substantial contribution to controlling the vast load of traffic on that road—a load that is likely to increase.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

In considering this urgent matter, will the Minister bear in mind, first, that whilst the Stranraer roads may be clogged with Irish drivers, the courts are clogged with motoring cases? Before the right hon. and learned Gentleman takes steps to add to that burden, will he look at the situation, particularly in the Glasgow Sheriff Court, where there are very long delays because of the clogging up of the courts?

The Lord Advocate

The hon. Gentleman has made a useful contribution. One must strike a balance in these matters. I take note of what the hon. Gentleman says.