HC Deb 26 May 1978 vol 950 cc772-7W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each regional police force of persons within their area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; in how many cases applications were made for detention to

Police force Number of detentions Number of applications for extensions of detention
Metropolitan Police 741 101
Avon and Somerset Constabulary 39 3
Bedfordshire Police 43 0
Cambridgeshire Constabulary 0 0
Cheshire Constabulary 6 0
City of London Police 24 8
Cleveland Constabulary 7 1
Cumbria Constabulary 2 2
Derbyshire Constabulary 1 0
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 29 4
Dorset Police 16 0
Durham Constabulary 0 0
Essex Police 33 6
Gloucestershire Constabulary 11 0
Greater Manchester Police 59 3
Hampshire Constabulary 144 67
Hertfordshire Constabulary 0 0
Humberside Constabulary 5 0
Kent Constabulary 40 8
Lancashire Constabulary 60 4
Leicestershire Constabulary 7 0
Lincolnshire Constabulary 2 0
Merseyside Police 828 16
Norfolk Constabulary 0 0
Northamptonshire Police 20 1
Northumbria Police 5 0
North Yorkshire Police 1 0
Nottinghamshire Constabulary 3 0
South Yorkshire Police 0 0
Staffordshire Police 0 0
Suffolk Police 8 0
Surrey Constabulary 82 25
Sussex Police 19 0
Thames Valley Police 16 5
Warwickshire Constabulary 0 0
West Mercia Constabulary 2 1
West Midlands Police 98 8
West Yorkshire (Metropolitan) Police 106 7
Wiltshire Constabulary 3 0
Dyfed Powys Police 57 0
Gwent Constabulary 2 2
North Wales Police 44 0
South Wales Constabulary 59 2
2,622 274

In addition, 613 people have been detained under the legislation in Scotland, in respect of four of whom extensions of detention were granted.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how

be extended for a further five days; and in how many cases it was refused.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The total number of persons detained in England and Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 and the total number of applications for extensions of detention, none of which was refused for each police force is as follows:

many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been charged subsequently with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

Mr Merlyn Rees

Three thousand, two hundred and thirty-five people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 278 cases; a further 675 people were detained for 48 hours or less. Two thousand, two hundred and eighty-two people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.

One hundred and forty-two people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. Twenty of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Four of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 16 with conspiracy to cause explosions, 11 with unlawful possession of explosives, 1 with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, 12 with offences under the Firearms Act 1968, 1 with causing an explosion, 5 with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 22 with theft, 8 with burglary, 1 with causing criminal damage, 1 with threatening to cause criminal damage, 1 with attempting criminal deception, 1 with taking a motor vehicle, 1 with handling a stolen vehicle, 5 with handling stolen property, 1 with unlawful wounding, 2 with possession of drugs, 3 with wasting police time, 1 with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, 4 with assault on police, 1 with being found on enclosed premises, 1 with possessing an offensive weapon, 3 with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1972, 5 with criminal deception, 1 with obtaining a passport by deception, 1 with arson and six with non-payment of fines. In addition, five people have been removed to the Irish Republic, and there charged, three with burglary, one with robbery, and one with theft.

Thirty-two people have been returned to Northern Ireland, and there charged, 8 with murder, 3 with robbery, 5 with firearms offences, 4 with unlawful possession of explosives, 5 with causing an explosion, 1 with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, 4 with burglary, and 2 with arson.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Twenty-four people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976: three under Section 10(1)(a), two under Sections 10(1)(a) and 10(2), two under Section 10(1), eight under Section 10(1)(b), three under Section 1(1)(b), two under Section 9(1), two under Section 9(2)(a) and two under Section 11(1). Four people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974. Not all of these people were initally detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

One hundred and thirty-three exclusion orders have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 125 people, 118 of whom have been removed, 93 to Northern Ireland and 25 to the Irish Republic. Twenty-two of the 125 made representations objecting to the order. The order has been revoked in six of these cases. One case is still under consideration.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the prevention of terrorism legislation; and if so, how many.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

No.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, whether any have been dropped before the case was heard and, if so, which charges; whether any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution and, if so, which charges; if any charges have led to a successful prosecution; and if so, in each case, what was the sentence imposed.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

There have been only two changes in the detailed information I gave in answer to a similar Question by my hon. Friend on 7th April 1978. The number of persons returned to Northern Ireland and there charged with murder has increased from seven to eight, and the number awaiting trial from six to seven.—[Vol. 947, cc. 229–31.]