Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people imprisoned for terrorism offences are due to be released in 2019.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The Home Office publishes data on the number of persons convicted, following an arrest for a terrorism-related offence, in the quarterly ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2000 and subsequent legislation’ statistical release. The number of people (to September of each year) convicted for terrorism related offences over the last five years are as follows:
2014 | 41 |
2015 | 60 |
2016 | 68 |
2017 | 60 |
2018 | 19 |
Under current Office for National Statistics guidelines we are not yet able to release 2019 release figures for TACT and TACT related offenders as this is intended for future publication. The publication date has not yet been confirmed.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been sentenced to imprisonment for terrorism offences in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The Home Office publishes data on the number of persons convicted, following an arrest for a terrorism-related offence, in the quarterly ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2000 and subsequent legislation’ statistical release. The number of people (to September of each year) convicted for terrorism related offences over the last five years are as follows:
2014 | 41 |
2015 | 60 |
2016 | 68 |
2017 | 60 |
2018 | 19 |
Under current Office for National Statistics guidelines we are not yet able to release 2019 release figures for TACT and TACT related offenders as this is intended for future publication. The publication date has not yet been confirmed.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any evidence that drones have been used to smuggle items into HM Prisons; and what counter measures are available.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
We know that drones are used to smuggle prohibited articles and illicit substances into prison, including mobile phones, Class A drugs and psychoactive substances. They present a significant threat to the safety and security of our prisons as they can carry up to 2kg worth of contraband.
We are taking decisive steps to tackle the use of drones as a supply route for organised criminals to bring drugs and mobile phones into prisons. In April 2017, we announced the launch of Operation Trenton, a specialist team of police and Prison Service investigators, to work together to intercept drones and track down the criminals behind them. Additionally, we are carrying out a series of intelligence-led operations to disrupt drones as they enter prison airspace. This tactic has already been used successfully in several establishments. These targeted counter measures are used alongside a range of security measures in place across the estate to stop items coming into prison, including surveillance, detection dogs, body scanners and intelligence-led searches.
To date, there have been at least 17 convictions related to drone activity, with those convicted sentenced to a total of more than 50 years in prison.
We are also working closely with government partners on the UK’s response to the drone threat and the development of counter drone technology, including the piloting of technical counter measures to block signals. This is keeping the Prison Service at the forefront of the work being progressed nationally and internationally to stop the criminal use of drones.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practicality of jamming illegal mobile phones in HM Prisons.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The illicit use of mobile phones undermines the safety and security of our prisons. We are taking urgent and decisive action to tackle this threat including detection dogs, body scanners and intelligence-led searches.
Fixed mobile phone blocking technology is already used across the prison estate, and is effective at prejudicing mobile phone signals transmitted on 2G, 3G and 4G frequency bands. We are also working with mobile network operators to deliver ground-breaking technology to further improve our ability to stop mobiles smuggled into prisons from working.
The Government is supporting Maria Caulfield MP’s Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill, which would give the Secretary of State the power to authorise mobile network operators to interfere with wireless telegraphy for the purpose of preventing, detecting, or investigating the use of mobile phones in prisons. This will enable them to become more directly involved in combatting the problems caused by illicit phone use in prison.
Alongside blocking technology, we have invested £2 million into detection equipment, including hand-held detectors and portable detection devices.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been under section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996 in the last twelve months for which information is available.
Answered by Lord Faulks
The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences under Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996, in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2013, can be viewed in table A below.
| Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996, England and Wales, 2009 to 2013 (1)(2) | ||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| 1,437 | 1,706 | 2,068 | 1,816 | 1,930 |
| (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. | ||||
| (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. | ||||
| Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. | ||||
| Ref: PQ HL 647 | ||||