HC Deb 28 July 1983 vol 46 cc614-7W
Mr. J. Enoch Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the security statistics for the first six months of 1983 are now available.

Mr. Prior

Yes. I am including in the reply details of convictions obtained during the period from January to June 1983. The following is the information:

Statistics on Security

PART I—STATISTICS OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY

Yearly totals for 1971–1982

Six monthly total for January-June 1983

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 neutralised
  4. (iv) Weight of explosives in bombs and devices neutralised
  5. (v) Number of armed robberies and amount stolen
  6. (vi) Number of malicious fires
  7. (vii) Number of deaths and injuries of RUC/RUC 'R', Army and civilians.

PART II—STATISTICS OF SECURITY FORCES' ACTIVITY

Yearly totals for 1971–1982

Six monthly total for January-June 1983

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
  3. (iii) Number of people charged with terrorist type offences (murder, attempted murder, explosives offences, firearms offences, armed robbery and other offences relating to the security situation, e.g. arson, membership of illegal organisation, etc).

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Jan/June 1983
Deaths
Civilian 115 322 171 166 216 245 69 50 51 50 57 57 15
Army/UDR 48 129 66 35 20 29 29 21 48 16 23 28 5
RUC/RUC'R' 11 17 13 15 11 23 14 10 14 9 21 12 9
Injuries
Civilian 1,838 3,813 1,812 1,680 2,044 2,162 1,027 548 557 530 878 328 87
Army/UDR 390 578 548 483 167 264 188 135 153 77 140 98 47
RUC/RUC'R' 315 485 291 235 263 303 183 302 165 194 332 99 30
* Figures in ( ) refer to shots heard only and are not included in the total.
† Estimated weight only.
‡ Consolidated figures not available for earlier years.
║ No figure for April—June 1981.

Statistics on securityPart II (Yearly figures)
1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Jan/June 1983
Houses searched* 17,262 36,617 74,556 71,914 30,092 34,939 20,724 15,462 6,452 4,106 4,104 4,045 878
Finds
Firearms 717 1,264 1,595 1,260 825 837 590 400 301 203 398 321 122
Ammunition (Rounds) 157,944 183,410 187,399 147,202 73,604 70,306 52,091 43,512 46,280 28,078 47,070 41,453 31,087
Explosives 2,748 41,488 38,418 26,120 11,565 21,714 3,809 2,108 1,996 1,810 7,536 5,066 1,603
* Includes occupied and unoccupied houses searched.

Persons charged with terrorist type offences*
31 July-31 December 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 January-June 1983
Murder 13 71 77 138 120 131 60 45 63 48 50 30
Attempted murder 16 85 76 88 121 135 79 39 59 72 96 23
Firearms offences 242 631 545 460 353 301 225 177 112 155 173 63
Explosives offences 86 236 161 100 215 146 79 40 39 39 41 19
Theft act 111 186 239 314 188 203 151 159 128 158 130 59
Other 63 205 276 97 279 392 249 210 149 446 196 66
Total 531 1,414 1,374 1,197 1,276 1,308 843 670 550 918 686 260
* These figures are not available in consolidated form for earlier years.

Convictionsfor scheduled offences January to June 1983
Offence Number convicted Non-custodial sentence Young Offenders Centre Training Schools Less than 5 years 5 years and less than 7 years 7 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 6 6
Attempted murder 7 4 3
Conspiracy to murder 3 3
Manslaughter 2 1 1
Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm 3 1 1 1
Causing grievous bodily harm 1 1
Assault occasioning grievous bodily harm 5 3 2
Causing explosion 7 1 6
Placing explosive
Possessing explosives with intent 9 3 1 3 2
Other explosive offences 5 2 2 1
Possessing a firearm with intent 15 5 1 4 2 3
Possessing a firearm
Carrying a firearm with intent 19 10 6 3
Other major firearms offences 36 23 1 11 1
Minor firearms offences
Robbery 108 21 13 36 20 16 2
Aggravated burglary —.
Membership of illegal organisations 3 1 2
Unlawful collection of information 4 1 3
Illegal training

Offence Number convicted Non-custodial sentence Young Offenders Centre Training Schools Less than 5 years 5 years and less than 7 years 7 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
Kidnapping and false imprisonment 2 1 1
Contributing to resources of a proscribed organisation 1 1
Soliciting support for a proscribed organisation
Malicious damage
Possession of an offensive weapon 4 3 1
Hi-jacking 29 20 5 4
Arson 20 14 4 1 1
Petrol bomb offences 17 13 4
Criminal damage 1 1
Escape offences 5 5
Assisting offenders 3 3
Intimidation 1 1
Withholding information 5 4 1
Possessing prohibited articles
Common law riot 1 1
Conspiracy to arm terrorists 2 2
TOTAL 324 126 39 74 27 26 12 6 8 6