Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish photographs of the riots in the Fountain and in Bishop Street in Londonderry on Sunday 1st February, with a view to getting the involvement and co-operation of the public in the identification of the rioters.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:
This is a matter for the Chief Constable to consider.
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Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been identified by the police as having taken part in Republican or civil rights acts of disruption in Londonderry in 1974 and in 1975; how many such persons have been charged and how many convicted; how many such acts of disruption—that is, illegal marches, sit-downs on the roadway, riot and stone-throwing, etc.—are known to have taken place; and what is the maximum number of persons in any single act or demonstration and what is the minimum in any single demonstration or act.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:
There were 42 incidents of the kind referred to by the hon. Member, involving demonstrations comprising between three and approximately 5,000 persons. As a result, two persons were charged in 1974 and seven in 1975. Convictions are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, and identification of persons by the police an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he has any plans for introducing into the judicial system in Northern Ireland small claims courts along the lines now operating in England in order to speed and cheapen the costs of litigation;
(2) if he will take steps to extend the jurisdiction of the petty sessions courts to accommodate small claims; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:
I cannot yet add anything to the answer I gave on 28th January 1976 to the hon. Member for Down, North, (Mr. Kilfedder).—Vol. 904, c. 225.]—The possible extention of the jurisdiction of the petty sessions courts to accommodate small claims is one of the ideas being considered.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what way the procedures of identification of persons 130W who stage sit-downs on the public high way have been improved since November 1974.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:
It would not be in the interest of security to give details of the procedures used by the security forces for identifying persons involved in public disorders.