§ 36. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Attorney-General what representations he has recently received about prosecutions for racial harassment. [5205]
§ The Attorney-GeneralI frequently receive representations concerning the enforcement of the law relating to incitement to racial hatred. During 1996, to date, the Law Officers have received 10 applications for consent to prosecute for such offences. Nine have been granted, and one is under consideration.
§ Mr. MarshallMy right hon. and learned Friend will be well aware of the campaign of hatred and intimidation waged by Hizb-ut-Tahrir on university campuses, which culminated in its, fortunately unsuccessful, attempt to close down the Jewish Society in Manchester. There is a feeling of surprise that that campaign has not yet resulted in one prosecution. Would my right hon. and learned Friend be willing to meet a deputation from the Union of Jewish Students to explain the position?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI am not sure that my hon. Friend is entirely right on his last point, because there was a prosecution related to HUT or to a very similar group of activists. However, I remind my hon. Friend that that prosecution was stopped on certain grounds by the trial judge. My hon. Friend may have noticed that the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has established a working group to consider what advice can be given to universities faced with groups that incite racial, religious or political hatred. If that assists the police in bringing cases to the Crown Prosecution Service, I assure him that those cases will be most carefully considered.