§ Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated about the number of arrests under the anti-terrorism legislation over the last 12 months; how many led to(a) charges and (b) release; and if he will make a statement. [184737]
§ Ms BlearsDue to the method by which Terrorism Act arrests are recorded, figures for the requested period are not available. The closest period we can compile is 11 March 2003 to 30 June 2004. For this period, 274 people were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. 46 of these were charged under the Act. The remainder were either released without charge, bailed to return, cautioned, charged under other legislation or dealt with under immigration or mental health legislation.
§ Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for the arrests of seven people in Greater Manchester and three others in other parts of England on 19 April under terrorism legislation; and if he will make a statement. [185091]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 21 July 2004]: This was an intelligence-led operation and the police would have been failing in their duty if they did not act on any available information and investigate its veracity.
The police decided not to press charges and all the suspects were released without charge.