§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Attorney-General on what statutory basis he authorises the vetting of juries; and what guidance he issues to the special branch in such cases.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo statutory authority is required for jury checking. Both the prosecution and the defence in any jury trial have the right to inspect a copy of the panel from which the jury will be chosen so that they may inquire about the members of the panel and decide whether any should be challenged. So far as the prosecution is concerned, I issued guidelines in July 1980 — which were merely a revision and elaboration of guide-lines issued by my predecessor, Mr. Sam Silkin— requiring the Director of Public Prosecutions to seek my personal authority in every case in which such checks are proposed. A copy of those guidelines is in the Library of the House. I issue no guidance direct to the Special Branch, but paragraph 6 of my guidelines indicates the scope of the inquiries which the Director may request the police to make.