HC Deb 21 April 1986 vol 96 c17W
Mr. Freeson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to stop dangerous material such as bomb-making manuals now openly on sale at militaria and book shops in London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

If a publication contained material presented in such a way as to incite crime there might be grounds for a prosecution. Whether action should be taken in respect of a particular publication is in the first instance for the police, in consultation as necessary with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Publications such as bomb manuals generally contain little or no information which is not a matter of common sense, or already available in reference libraries. The police have no evidence of anyone making use of these manuals for terrorist or other criminal purposes.