§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act since the Act's inception in the Merseyside region; and how many of these people were subsequently charged and with what offence;
(2) how many people have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (a) in Merseyside and (b) in Birkenhead for each year since the Act's inception.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe information available relates to police force areas in the period 29 November 1974 to 31 March 1979; the numbers of persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 by 265W police force area were published in Table 2 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 3/79 copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Fifty-eight of the persons detained in Merseyside police force area were subsequently charged with the offences shown in the following table:
PERSONS DETAINED UNDER THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACTS 1974 AND 1976 AND CHARGED WITH OFFENCES BY PRINCIPAL OFFENCE* Merseyside police force area, 29 November 1974–31 March 1979 Number of persons Charged in Great Britain Offences under Prevention of Terrorism Legislation 4 Attempted murder 3 Conspiracy to murder 1 Causing/conspiracy to cause explosions 4 Unlawful possession of explosives with intent to endanger life 3 Other violence against the person 2 Offence under Firearms Act 1968 1 Burglary/aggravated burglary 3 Other Theft Act offences 10 Forgery 1 Other offences 11 Total charged in Great Britain 43 Returned to Northern Ireland and charged† Murder 1 Causing an explosion 1 Firearms offence 1 Robbery 3 Burglary 3 Theft 1 Riotous behaviour 1 Total charged in Northern Ireland 11 Returned to the Republic of Ireland and charged† Burglary 1 Theft 3 Total charged in the Republic of Ireland 4 Total 58 * If charged with more than one offence, the principal offence is that for which the person was found guilty or that for which the most severe sentence was or could be imposed. † These persons were not subject to an exclusion order but were returned under other powers to face charges.