HC Deb 30 July 1982 vol 28 cc798-801W
Mr. J. Enoch Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security statistics for the first half of 1982.

Mr. Prior

The security statistics for the first six months of 1982, together with details of convictions obtained during the same period are now available, and the information is as follows:

STATISTICS ON SECURITY

Part I—Statistics of Terrorist Activity

Yearly totals for 1971–1981

Six-monthly Total for January-June 1982

Statistics for Terrorist Activity comprise the following:

  1. (i) Number of shooting incidents
  2. (ii) Number of explosions
  3. (iii) Number of bombs and devices neutralized
  4. (iv) Weight of explosives in bombs and devices neutralized
  5. (v) Number of malicious fires
  6. (vi) Number of armed robberies and amount stolen
  7. (vii) Number of deaths and injuries of RUC/RUC'R', Army and Civilians.

Part II—Statistics of Security Forces' Activity

Yearly totals for 1971–1981

Six-monthly Total for January-June 1982

Statistics for Security Forces' activity comprise the following:

  1. (i) Number of houses searched
  2. (ii) Number of weapons, pounds of explosives and rounds of ammunition found

Statistics on Security Part I
Yearly Figures
1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Jan-June 1982 July-Dec 1982
Shooting Incidents* 1,756 10,628 5,018 3,206 1,803 1,908 1,081 755 728 642 815(327) 202(98)
Explosions 1,022 1,382 978 685 399 766 366 455 422 280 398 138
Bombs Neutralised 493 471 542 428 236 426 169 178 142 120 132 69
Weight of Explosives (in lbs)†
In explosions 10,972 47,462 47,472 46,435 13,753 17,596 2,839 5,343 11,181 9,059 9,621 9,327
Neutralised 3,001 19,978 32,450 27,094 11,159 16,252 2,188 5,860 4,530 6,405 9,168 4,334
Armed Robberies 437 1,931 1,215 1,231 1,201 813 591 442 434 412 587 279
Amount Stolen £ 303,787 790,687 612,015 572,951 572,105 545,497 446,988 232,650 568,359 496,829 854,929 711,694
Malicious Fires ‡≑ 587 636 248 453 432 269 315 275 536 273
Deaths
Civilians 115 322 171 166 216 245 69 50 51 50 57 22
Army/UDR 48 129 66 35 20 29 29 21 48 16 23 10
RUC/RUC 'R' 11 17 13 15 11 23 14 10 14 9 21 4
Injuries
Civilians 1,838 3,813 1,812 1,680 2,044 2,162 1,027 548 557 530 878 226
Army/UDR 390 578 548 483 167 264 188 135 153 77 140 36
RUC/RUC 'R' 315 485 291 235 263 303 183 302 165 194 332 42
* Figures in brackets refer to shots heard only and not included in the total.
† Estimated weight only.
‡ Consolidated figures not available for earlier years.
≑ No figures available for April-June 1981.

Statistics on Security Part II
Yearly Figures
1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Houses Searched† 17,262 36,617 74,556 71,914 30,092 34,939 20,724 15,462
Finds: Firearms 717 1,264 1,595 1,260 825 837 590 400
Finds: Ammunition (RDS) 157,944 183,410 187,399 147,202 73,604 70,306 52,091 43,512
Finds: Explosives (LBS) 2,748 41,488 38,418 26,120 11,565 21,714 3,809 2,108

Persons charged with serious type offences*
31 July to 31 December
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Murder 13 71 75 138 120 131 60
Attempted Murder 16 85 75 88 121 135 79
Firearms Offences 242 631 544 460 353 301 225
Explosives Offences 86 236 161 100 215 146 79
Theft Act 111 186 232 314 188 203 151
Other 63 205 275 97 279 392 249
TOTAL 531 1,414 1,362 1,197 1,276 1,308 843
* These figures are not available in consolidated form for earlier years.
‡ Includes occupied and unoccupied houses searched.

Yearly Figures
January to June July to December
1979 1980 1981 1982 1982
Houses Searched† 6,452 4,106 4,104 1,730
Finds: Firearms 301 203 398 203
Finds: Ammunition 46,280 28,078 47,070 17,859
Finds: Explosives (LBS) 1,996 1,810 7,536 88

Persons charged with terrorist-type offences*
January to June July to December
1979 1980 1981 1982 1982
Mulder 45 63 48 32
Attempted Murder 39 59 72 55

  1. (iii) Number of people, charged with terrorist-type offences (murder, attempted murder, explosives offences relating to the security situation eg arson, membership of illegal organisations etc).

January to June July to December
1979 1980 1981 1982 1982
Firearms Offences 177 112 155 84
Explosives Offences 40 39 39 20
Theft Act 152 128 158 79
Other 210 149 446 125
TOTAL 670 550 918 395
* These figures are not available in consolidated form for earlier years.
† Includes occupied and unoccupied houses searched.

Imprisonment
January-June 1982
Offence Number convicted Non-custodial sentence Borstal or Training Centre Less than five years Five years and less than seven years Seven years and less than 10 years 10 years and less than 15 years 15 years and less than 20 years 20 years and over Life
Murder 15 15
Attempted murder 13 1 1 1 4 5 1
Conspiracy to murder 5 1 1 2 1
Manslaughter 11 1 3 1 3 3
Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm 11 2 1 5 1 2
Causing grievous bodily harm 1 1
Assault occasioning grievous bodily harm 3 3
Causing explosion 11 1 2 5 2 1
Placing explosive
Possessing explosives with intent 12 1 3 1 1 3 3
Other explosive offences 5 3 2
Possessing a firearm with intent 29 2 2 5 5 5 7 3
Possessing a firearm
Carrying a firearm with intent 5 1 1 3
Other major firearms offences 38 18 3 14 2 1
Minor firearms offences 8 4 4
Robbery 117 29 24 25 21 9 8 1
Aggravated burglary
Hi-jacking 50 32 9 9
Arson 41 33 5 2 1
Petrol bomb offences 80 58 15 7
Criminal damage 5 3 1 1
Escape offences 2 2
Assisting offenders 2 1 1
Intimidation 6 6
Withholding information 10 9 1
Possessing prohibited articles
Common Law Riot 3 2 1
Membership of illegal organisations 3 1 2
Unlawful collection of information
Illegal training
Kidnapping and false imprisonment 2 1 1
Contributing to resources of a proscribed organisation
Soliciting support for a proscribed organisation
Malicious damage
Total 488 210 64 81 41 29 27 12 8 16