94. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the 344W light of the fact that assaults on the police resulting in their absence from duty were 356 in the period 1966 to 1968 compared with a total of 196 in the period 1963 to 1965, he will introduce legislation to increase the panalties for assaults on police officers.
§ Mr. RossThere is no restriction in law on the period of imprisonment which can be imposed by the High Court of Justiciary for assaults on police officers.
The revised figure for such assaults in 1966–68 is 325.
Revised returns by chief constables for assaults on the police are as follows:
1959–65 1959 … … … … 49 1960 … … … … 53 1961 … … … … 60 1962 … … … … 60 1963 … … … … 56 1964 … … … … 64 1965 … … … … 76 1966 … … … … 88 1967 … … … … 105 1968 … … … … 132