HC Deb 20 June 1986 vol 99 cc656-7W
Mr. John Mark Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the legal powers available to protect private landowners from reckless intruders.

Mr. Mellor

We are urgently considering whether some further strengthening of the criminal law is required to protect private landowners from trespassers, and shall not hesitate to introduce any necessary changes.

Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made so far in connection with the current trades dispute at Wapping; if he will give a breakdown of (a) the charges laid against those arrested, (b) the number of charges that have subsequently been dropped, (c) bail conditions imposed by magistrates and (d) the number of convictions that there have been; and what sentences have ensued.

Mr. Giles Shaw

[pursuant to his reply, 19 May 1986, c. 12]: I understand from the commissioner that, up to 9 June, 918 people had been arrested in connection with this dispute. Of these, 799 were charged with various offences ranging from threatening behaviour to grievous bodily harm. No charges have been dropped. Bail conditions have included undertakings not to go within a certain distance of the News International plant, and conditions of residence.

Up to 9 June, 474 people had been convicted of offences in connection with the dispute. The sentences included conditional discharges, fines and imprisonment. The highest sentence of imprisonment was 21 days.