§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdown of the total number of pickets arrested from 14 March, at the beginning of the miners strike, to 10 May, by police force area; and what information he has as to the nature of offences with which those arrested have been charged.
§ Mr. AncramFrom 14 March to 10 May 1984, both dates inclusive, a total of 512 arrests were made: one in the area of Central Scotland police, six in the area of Fife constabulary, one in the area of Lothian and Borders police and 504 in the area of Strathclyde police. These figures include 334 persons detained in Strathclyde en route to locations at which the police had reasonable cause to fear a breach of the peace.
The majority of those arrested were charged by the police with breach of the peace and/or contravention of section 41 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 — obstructing the police. Four persons were charged, respectively with vandalism, assault, trespass, and possession of an offensive weapon.