HC Deb 15 December 1978 vol 960 cc502-8W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each regional police force of persons within its area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provision)

Police force Number of detentions Number of applications for extension of detention
Englad
Metropolitan police 803 104
Avon and Somerset constabulary 39 3
Bedfordshire police 48 0
Cambridgeshire constabulary 0 0
Cheshire constabulary 8 1
City of London police 24 8
Cleveland constabulary 7 1
Cumbria constabulary 5 2
Derbyshire constabulary 1 0
Devon and Cornwall constabulary 31 5
Dorset police 16 0
Durham constabulary 1 0
Essex police 37 6
Gloucestershire constabulary 11 0
Greater Manchester police 62 3
Hampshire constabulary 148 67
Hertfordshire constabulary 0 0
Humberside constabulary 5 0
Kent constabulary 46 9
Lancashire constabulary 68 5
Leicestershire constabulary 8 0
Lincolnshire constabulary 2 0
Merseyside police 930 18
Norfolk constabulary 0 0
Northamptonshire police 20 1
Northumbria police 5 0
North Yorkshire police 1 0
Nottinghamshire constabulary 3 0
South Yorkshire police 1 0
Staffordshire police 0 0
Suffolk police 8 0
Surrey constabulary 82 25
Sussex police 32 0
Thames Valley police 17 5
Warwickshire constabulary 0 0
West Mercia constabulary 2 1
West Midlands police 106 9
West Yorkshire (metropolitan) police 129 7
Wiltshire constabulary 3 0
Wales
Dyfed Powys police 59 0
Gwent constabulary 3 2
North Wales police 53 0
South Wales constabulary 61 2
2,885 284

In addition, 704 people have been detained under the legislation in Scotland, in respect of four of whom extensions of detention were granted.

In no case has an application for an extension of detention been refused.

Act; in how many cases applications were made for detention to be extended by a further five days; and in how many cases such applications were refused.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

The total numbers of persons detained in England and Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 for each police force are as follows:

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. Merlyn Rees:

A total of 3,589 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under section 7 of the 1974 Act or section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 288 cases; 726 people were detained for 48 hours or less. Altogether, 2,575 people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.

Some 151 people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. Of these 20 have been charged with offences under the Acts. Four of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, one with conspiracy to murder, 18 with conspiracy to cause explosions, 12 with unlawful possession of explosives, one with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, 12 with offences under the Firearms Act 1968, one with causing an explosion, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 23 with theft, nine with burglary, one with causing criminal damage, one with threatening to cause criminal damage, one with attempting criminal deception, one with taking a motor vehicle, one with unlawful wounding, two with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, four with assault on police, one with being found on enclosed premises, one with possessing an offensive weapon, four with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1972, five with criminal deception, one with obtaining a passport by deception, one with arson and eight with nonpayment of fines.

In addition, five people have been removed to the Irish Republic and there charged, three with burglary, one with robbery and one with theft. One person has been charged with attempting to cause an explosion and has been committed for return to the Republic.

A total of 35 people have been returned to Northern Ireland and there charged, eight with murder, four with robbery, five with firearms offences, four with unlawful possession of explosives, five with causing an explosion, one with the un- lawful taking of a motor vehicle, five with burglary, two with arson and one with riotous behaviour.

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. Merlyn Rees:

A total of 24 people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976: three under section 10(1)(a), two under section 10(1)(a) and 10(2), two under section 10(1), eight under section 10(1)(b), three under section 1(1)(b), two under section 9(1), two under section 9(2)(a), and two under section 11(1). Four people were charged in Great Britain under section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974. Not all these people were initially detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported (a) to Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

A total of 160 exclusion orders have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 152 people, 145 of whom have been removed, 120 to Northern Ireland and 25 to the Republic of Ireland. A total of 25 of the 152 made representations against the order. The order was revoked in eight of these cases.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a subject under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

None.

Mr. McNamara

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

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

Details of the outcome of the more serious charges made in Great Britain are as follows:

Charges for offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974 (4)

Four people were charge under section 1(1)(b). Three were acquitted, and one was convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined £400.

Charges for offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 (16)

Three people have been charged under section 1(1)(b). One was convicted and sentenced to one day's imprisonment and the two others were acquitted. Two people have been charged and convicted under section 9(1); one was fined £50; the other was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Two people have been charged and convicted under section 9(2)(a); one was fined £100; the other was sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment.

Two people have been charged under sections 10(1)(a) and 10(2). They were convicted and sentenced to 8 years' and two years' imprisonment respectively. Two people have been charged under section 10(1). One was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment; the other was acquitted. Three people have been charged under section 10(1)(a) and are awaiting trial. Two people have been charged under section 11(1). One was acquitted, but sentenced to two years' imprisonment on another charge; the other was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

Murder (4)

Four people have been charged. Three have been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. In the other case, the charge was not proceeded with.

Attempted Murder (3)

Three people have been charged, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Conspiracy to Murder (1)

One person has ben charged and is awaiting trial.

Conspiracy to cause explosions (18)

Eighteen people have been charged and fourteen convicted. Two have been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, one to 15 years' imprisonment, one to 14 years' imprisonment, one to 12 years, six to 10 years, one to seven years, one to five years, and one to four years. Two cases were not proceeded with, and two are awaiting trial.

Unlawful possession of explosives (12)

Twelve people have been charged; one has been acquitted and 10 have been convicted. Two were sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, two to 12 years' imprisonment, two to 10 years, one to seven years, one to five years and two to four years. One person is awaiting trial.

Conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life (1)

One person has been charged and acquitted.

Offences under the Firearms Act 1968 (12)

Twelve people have been charged and convicted. Two were sentenced to two years' imprisonment, two were sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment—suspended—and fined £100; one was fined £150, one £100, one £60, one £25 and one £20; one was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. In one case the person concerned was admonished and ordered to forfeit his firearms and ammunition.

Causing an explosion (1)

One person has been charged, convicted and sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment.