§ Lord Harris of Greenwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether following the case of Regina versus Turner, Terroni and Brown at the Central Criminal Court, they will make a statement on interference with a juror in connection with that trial, what action was taken during and following the trial by the police, how many officers were involved, and what further action will be taken to deal with improper approaches to jurors at the Central Criminal Court and elsewhere.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the case ofRegina versus Turner, Terroni and Brown was interrupted on 7th April 1983 when the Judge ordered the jurors to be given police protection following a complaint by a member of the jury that he had received an approach concerning the case.
68WASeventy-eight police officers were provided to give 24-hour protection to the jury. At the conclusion of the trial on 18th April, 1983, a police investigation into the approach to the juror was commenced and this is continuing.
In recent months discussions have taken place between the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Home Office, representatives of the Commissioners of the Metropolitan and the City of London Police and the Courts Administrator at the Central Criminal Court on all aspects of interference with juries with a view to reducing the opportunities for illegal approaches.