§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list the criteria used by the prosecution authorities in deciding whether action should be taken over incitement to murder; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe criteria set out in the code for crown prosecutors, issued under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, are applied in all prosecutions considered by the crown prosecution service. The criteria require that there is sufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of a conviction, and the public interest requires a prosecution in the circumstances.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Attorney-General what representations have been received by the prosecution authorities in the last year regarding incitement to murder calls against Mr. Rushdie.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn March 1989 the Director of Public Prosecutions instructed all chief crown prosecutors to refer to him all correspondence relating to any possible offence of incitement to murder Mr. Rushdie. Over the last year the crown prosecution service has received or had referred to it letters from a total of 39 correspondents in respect of alleged death threats against Mr. Salman Rushdie.
Additionally, three police reports have been received concerning instances of alleged threats.