HC Deb 13 November 1984 vol 67 cc198-200W
Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest number of arrests resulting from incidents arising out of the miners' dispute; and in what categories charges have been made.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Between 13 March and 8 November inclusive 7,658 arrests have been made in connection with the miners' dispute. Up to and including 6 November charges had been brought for the following offences:

Offence Number
Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936 3,264
Obstruction of the police 1,525
Obstruction of the highway 582
Criminal damage 724
Criminal damage with intent to endanger life 4
Arson 10
Assault on the police 263
Assault—actual bodily harm 293
Assault—grievious bodily harm 34
Theft 137
Resisting arrest 17
Possession of an offensive weapon 38
Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act—Besetting 226
Burglary 17
Handling stolen property 1
Drug offence 1
Breach of the peace 117
Breach of bail conditions 28
Attempt (various offences) 17
Drunkenness 56
Unlawful assembly 507
Railway offences 17
Affray 21
Riot 137
Incitement 1
Reckless driving 14
Threats/conspiracy to cause damage 12
Explosives offence 3
Threats to kill 3
Unlawful imprisonment 2
Other offences 123
Total charges 8,194

Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total financial cost to Lancashire county council for police operations in connection with the miners' strike; and how much assistance he has given to cover the cost of those operations.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I understand that the Lancashire police authority had incurred additional expenditure of £1.114 million on policing the miners' dispute in the county up to 30 September. This expenditure qualifies for normal police grant at 50 per cent. and the authority has sought and received an advance of grant of £543,000 from the Department. The Lancashire police have also incurred costs in providing assistance to other forces but these costs will be reclaimed by the Lancashire police authority from the authorities for those forces.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many criminal charges against those who are alleged to have intimidated working miners have been entered since the inception of the coal industry dispute; and, of the total, how many cases have been tried;

(2) of the 7,914 charges made since the commencement of the coal industry dispute, how many have been tried to date; and, of those involving in some way alleged intimidating working miners, how many cases have actually been heard.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Between 13 March and 6 November, 6,356 people were charged with a total of 8,194 offences in connection with the miners' dispute. Two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight of these cases had been completed by 6 November. The figures available centrally do not distinguish between offences committed against working miners and those committed against others. Nor is it possible from these figures to determine which of the charges have been brought for incidents of intimidation. That information could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which category of the wanted and missing persons' index of the police national computer names of miners not suspected of any crime but involved in picketing have been placed.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I am making inquiries to establish whether the position has changed since August when the hon. Member was informed that there had been no such cases.