Security Forces (Hansard, 13 December 1977)

§ Mr. Frank Maguire
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of non-military security forces in the United Kingdom, that is, total of police, Ulster Defence Regiment, searchers and security guards; who pays for them; and what is their total cost.

§ Mr. Mason
As regards Northern Ireland, the information sought in relation to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Civilian Search Unit and security guards employed by Government Departments is as follows:
information requested is not, therefore available.
Information relating to the UDR is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

§ Mr. Frank Maguire
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of assault and torture reported to the police have not been taken up by the Public Prosecutor; how many eases of assault and torture by the security forces has been taken to court by the Public Prosecutor; and how many of these cases have been taken to Strasbourg after having been turned down by the Public Prosecutor.

§ Mr. Mason
Northern Ireland law does not define an offence of torture. The statistics relating to complaints of assault made against the police in 1975 and 1976 are as follows:
201W
Figures for earlier years are not available in the same form. In 1973 there were 373 complaints of all kinds alleging criminal behaviour by the police, and three directions for prosecution were given by the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland) under the Offences Against the Person Act. Figures for 1974 were 380 and six. I understand that in 1976 there were 499 complaints of assault against members of the Army and 49 prosecutions were directed. The figures for 1975 were 420 and 32.
Since the beginning of 1973, four applications alleging breaches of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights by the security forces in Northern Ireland have been referred to the Government for observations. All four allegations were against the Army and all have been declared inadmissible by the European Commission on Human Rights. It has not been possible in the time available to establish whether any of these were previously the subject of a complaint to the police.