§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civilian searchers are presently employed in Northern Ireland; and what is the average pay per week.
§ Mr. DunnThe current strength of the Civilian Search Unit is as follows:
Belfast Segment Unit 269 Londonderry Segment Unit 102 Mobile Unit 67 Total 438 For details of current gross weekly earnings I refer the hon. Member to the information given in reply to Questions by the Member for Londonderry (Mr. Ross) on 17th December 1976.—[Vol. 922, c. 831–3.]
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost in the past three months of the civilian searcher units in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. DunnThe total cost of operating the Civilian Search Unit during the three months ended 28th February 1977 was £749,727.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many stolen vehicles have been recovered by the civilian searchers who operate outside town segment areas;
(2) how many persons have been arrested as a result of searches by civilian searchers (a) in town security segment areas and (b) in operations outside the segment areas;
(3) how much explosives and ammunition and how many detonators and guns have been found by civilian searchers in (a) town security segment areas and (b) in operations outside segment areas.
§ Mr. DunnThe function of the Civilian Search Unit is to search for60W arms and explosives, not to detect stolen vehicles. If munitions are found during a search the search officers call upon the security forces, which are always in attendance, and which are vested with the necessary authority to detain or arrest. It is difficult, without disproportionate effort, to provide precise details of arrests made under these circumstances, and, furthermore, it would not be in the best interests of Search Unit operations to give detailed information on arms or munition finds.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) for how long civilian searchers have been operating outside town segment areas; how many units are involved; how many persons are in each unit; and in what areas of Northern Ireland they have not been operating other than in town segment areas;
(2) how many uniformed members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary accompany each civilian search unit when operating outside town security areas; and whether a police superintendent attached to the civilian searchers accompanies every such unit.
§ Mr. DunnThe Civilian Search organisation comprises a mobile unit, which has been in operation since 1972 and at vehicle checkpoints since 1975. The Search Units operate in the Belfast and Londonderry segment areas. Duties at vehicle checkpoints are undertaken by the mobile unit in conjunction with the Royal Ulster Constabulary and under the direction of a police superintendent. It would not be in the interests of security to disclose details of either the number or strength of mobile unit teams, or the number of RUC personnel who accompany them into the areas of Northern Ireland in which they operate.