§ Mr. Foulkes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all crimes, by category, for each of the past five years and to the most recent available date in the current year, which have been committed in the Falkland Islands; what was the verdict of the court in each case; and whether the crimes in question were committed by Falkland Islanders, airport construction staff or military personnel.
§ Mr. EggarI will ask the Falkland Islands Government to provide me with statistics regarding convictions in the Falkland Islands comparable to those which are made available about convictions in the United Kingdom. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Foulkes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what personnel are available for the detection, prosecution and trial of offenders in the Falkland Islands; what training and qualifications they have; and whether he has any plans to strengthen their complement.
§ Mr. EggarThere ae eight fully trained police officers in the Falkland Islands. There is an Attorney-General and a stipendary magistrate, both of whom are solicitors. There are also lay magistrates. There is a Supreme Court, but no resident judge. Most prosecutions are conducted by the police. If appropriate, the Attorney-General or counsel from the English Bar would prosecute. The legal assistant to the Attorney-General, who is a barrister, is available to represent accused persons, there being no lawyers in private practice in the islands. The Falkland Islands Government have no plans to increase the strength of the police or legal service.