HC Deb 07 February 1986 vol 91 cc295-8W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will list for the duration of the miners' dispute (a) the number of people arrested and charged with an offence; (b) the number of people convicted; and (c) the number of people acquitted, stating in each case the nature of the offence.

Mr. Lang

A regional breakdown of survey results covering young people who left YTS during the period April to July 1985 is given in the following table:

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

[pursuant to his reply 3 December 1985, c. 168]: During the course of the miners' dispute 1,504 persons were arrested, 1,026 persons were prosecuted, 720 persons were convicted and 304 persons were acquitted in respect of offences arising out of the miners' strike. The figure for the number of persons acquitted includes 14 persons whose convictions were quashed on appeal. As a result of the failure of two persons to appear for trial, there are two cases still outstanding. Information on the nature and number of the charges involved is set out in the following table. A large number of the persons brought to trial faced two or more charges.

My reply on 4 April 1985, at columns 718–19, should be revised to show 4 convictions for possession of an offensive weapon and 3 convictions for theft and as at 22 March 1985 no acquittals.

Nature of Charge Prosecutions Convictions Acquittals
Breach of the Peace 834 615 217
Police (Scotland) Act 1967 Section 41 336 246 90
Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 3 64 60 4
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief 44 31 13
Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 24 16 8
Assault 19 14 5
Possession of an Offensive Weapon 10 4 6
Theft 4 3 1
Explosie Substances Act 1883 Section 2 2 0 2
Reckless Conduct 2 2 0
Careless Driving 2 1 1
Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Section 47 1 1 0

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will list for each region of Scotland his most recent information on the number of arrests, cases where proceedings have been instituted and convictions arising from the miners' strike; and if he will list the offences for which persons have been (a) charged and (b) convicted.

The Solicitor-General

for Scotland [pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1985, c. 168]: The information is set out in the following tables.

The first table details for each local authority region in Scotland the number of persons arrested; the number of persons prosecuted and the number of persons convicted in respect of offences arising out of the miners's strike. The figure for the number of persons convicted does not include 14 persons whose convictions were quashed on appeal. As a result of the failure of two persons to appear for trial, there are two cases still outstanding.

The remaining tables set out for each Scottish local authority region involved, the nature and number of charges brought by procurators fiscal in respect of such offences and the nature and number of such charges which resulted in conviction. A large number of the persons brought to trial faced two or more charges.

My reply on 4 April 1985, at columns 718–9, should be revised to show four convictions for possession of an offensive weapon and three convictions for theft and, as at 22 March 1985, no acquittals.

Local Authority Region Number of Persons arrested Number of Persons Prosecuted Number of persons convicted
Dumfries and Galloway 3 2 2
Central 44 40 28
Fife 225 214 179
Grampian 0 0 0
Lothian 474 453 328
Borders 0 0 0
Strathclyde 745 306 174
Highland 0 0 0
Tayside 13 11 9
Nature of Charge Prosecutions Convictions
Table No. 2—Dumfries and Galloway
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief 2 2
Table No. 3—Central Region
Breach of the peace 32 19
Police (Scotland) Act 1967 Section 41 18 10
Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 3 4 4
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief 11 5
Assault 4 4
Reckless Conduct 2 2
Theft 1 0
Table No. 4—Fife Region
Breach of the peace 129 91

Sex and Age of Victims of Offences Recorded in the Metropolitan Police District 1984
Offence Sex and Age of Victim
0–9 10–15 16–24 25–39 40–59 60 and over Total Sex or age not recorded Total recorded offences
Robbery Male 123 1,165 2,017 2,440 1,945 601 8,291 836 13,570
Female 13 202 1,314 1,459 874 581 4,443
Attempted murder and wounding endangering life Male 6 47 372 298 114 23 860 169 1,219

Nature of Charge Prosecutions Convictions
Police (Scotland) Act 1967 section 41 171 118
Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 3 9 8
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief 7 4
Assault 5 2
Explosive Substances Act 1883 Section 2 2 0
Table No. 5—Lothian Region
Breach of the peace 434 352
Police (Scotland) Act 1967 Section 41 101 89
Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 3 44 41
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief 15 12
Assault 10 8
Careless Driving 2 1
Possession of an offensive weapon 1 1
Table No. 6—Strathclyde Region
Breach of the peace 230 146
Police (Scotland) Act 1967 Section 41 44 27
Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 24 16
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief 9 8
Possession of an offensive weapon 9 3
Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 3 6 6
Theft 3 3
Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Section 47 1 1
Table No. 7—Tayside Region
Breach of the peace 9 7
Police (Scotland) Act 1967 Section 41 2 2
Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 3 1 1