Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many (a) males, and (b) females are employed in the Civilian Search Unit which covers the city of Londonderry;
(2) how many members of the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry have been recruited in the city of Londonderry, from Northern Ireland, and from Great Britain, respectively.
§ Mr. DunnOn 30th November 1976 the strength of the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry was 89, comprising 62 males and 27 females. All these members 759W were recruited from Northern Ireland, including 42 in the city of Londonderry.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of civilian search officers to apprehend persons have been apprehended by the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry to date; and with what they were charged.
§ Mr. DunnIt is not the function of civilian search officers to apprehend persons. Their primary rôle is to deter terrorists from taking bombs and weapons into the city centres. If munitions are discovered during a search, or the suspicions of the search officers are aroused, they must call upon the security forces who are always at hand, and who are vested with appropriate authority to detain or arrest as the case may be.