§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the arrest of Mr. Andrew Balfour by special branch officers on 17 August 1989 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; why he was held for two days at Paddington Green police station before being released on bail and told there is no case to answer; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand from the Commissioner that Mr. Balfour was arrested under section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 on 17 August 1989 and released the next day. A person arrested under this provision may be detained for up to 48 hours on the authority of the police if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that he is guilty of an offence under the Act, is a person who is or has been concerned with acts of Northern Ireland or international terrorism, or is subject to an exclusion order.