HC Deb 21 May 1976 vol 911 cc768-70W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

1,615 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act was approved in 205 cases; a further 405 people were detained for 48 hours or less. 1,005 people have been detained pending further examination at the ports under the Supplemental Orders made under the Acts. 83 people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain, eight of them with murder, three with attempted murder, 12 with conspiracy to cause explosions, seven with unlawful possession of explosives, six with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, three with contravention of Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 15 with theft, one with robbery, six with burglary, one with assisting offenders, two with causing criminal damage, two with attempting criminal deception, one with handling a stolen vehicle, three with handling stolen property, one with unlawful wounding, one with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, one with causing an explosion, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence and one with attempted theft.

In addition, three people have been returned to the Irish Republic and there charged, two with burglary and one with robbery. Three people have been returned to Northern Ireland and there charged, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, one with armed robbery, and one with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Three people have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976; one under Section 1(1)(b), one under Section 9(1) and one under Section 9(2)(a). Three people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; and, if so, in how many cases.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

No.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, whether any have been dropped before the case was heard; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to a successful prosecution; and, if so, what was the sentence imposed in each case.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I regret that this information could not be made available without disproportionate effort.