§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to date in respect of convicted prisoners attempting to establish their innocence on appeal, when the Royal Ulster Constabulary cannot trace the original statements taken down by that force's detectives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewThe safe guarding of police interview notes is a matter for the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. I understand that a force instruction, which came into effect in September 1992, directed that notes of interviews with terrorist suspects were to be made in booklets, electronically date and time stamped upon issue and following completion of the interview. The instruction also introduced additional measures to safeguard the long-term storage and security of those interview notes.