§ 9. Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on measures to combat the results of intimidation of witnesses in criminal cases.
§ Sir John WheelerThe practical arrangements for the safety and protection of Crown witnesses are matters for the Chief Constable who operates the witness protection scheme, but the Government condemn absolutely any attempt by anyone who seeks to damage the criminal justice system by any form of intimidation.
§ Mr. TrimbleI am sorry to say that that was a wholly inadequate reply. Has the Minister read the leading article in the current issue of Parliamentary Brief, written by Paul Wilkinson, the United Kingdom's leading academic expert on terrorism? If so, has the Minister noticed, among other things, that the article recommends that the Government introduce a statutory witness encouragement and protection scheme, drawing on the experience of 374 continental countries with a better record in this respect than the Government's? Did he also notice the recommendation of certain other changes that we have recommended consistently over the past year? Would it not be better to respond to those reasoned arguments than quietly to brief the press, as the Minister's office did last week, to the effect that the Government will do nothing, while maintaining their usual front in this House?
§ Sir John WheelerThe Government always welcome suggestions and ideas for improvements in these serious matters, but I suggest that the hon. Gentleman does a grave disservice to the Royal Ulster Constabulary when he implies that the Chief Constable cannot operate his existing scheme successfully in the best interests of the protection of witnesses. The police will continue to do that now and in the future.
§ Mr. Ian BruceDoes my right hon. Friend agree that if there were more publicity for the RUC's excellent record of arresting people and less publicity for Sinn Fein and the terrorists, more witnesses would be willing to come forward as they would realise that these terrible men of violence are being successfully prosecuted?
§ Sir John WheelerMy hon. Friend is quite right. The success of a police operation requires the support of the public. The RUC and the security services are increasingly successful in their apprehension of the people who commit these dreadful crimes. The public, too, can play their part by giving information to the police which enables them to fulfil their task.