HC Deb 14 February 1996 vol 271 cc583-4W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy in respect of groups which(a) incite racial hatred and (b) call for (i) homosexuals, (ii) Hindus and (iii) Jews to be killed. [14648]

Mr. Kirkhope

The Government find such views repugnant. We have sought to ensure that legal provisions are available to deal with members of such groups who incite violence and racial hatred under either the common law or public order legislation.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions(a) have been brought and (b) are currently in progress, on charges of racial hatred since the coming into force of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and how many have resulted in conviction. [14654]

Mr. Maclean

Section 155 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 made offences under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 arrestable under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 on 3 February 1995. Information on court proceedings data for the 1995 calendar year under this provision will not be available until autumn 1996.