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NI: Emergency Legislation Renewed

01 January 1996

At the height of the hunger strike in July 1981, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Humphrey Atkins, declared that "If the terrorists drop their campaign, we can drop the emergency provisions." Some 16 months after the IRA ceasefire, however, the British government renewed the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act (in December 1995) for a period of two years, but with minor amendments. The Act removes the powers which deal with "the confiscation of the proceeds of terrorist-related activities", since such powers are now incorporated in the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. It retains the power of internment without trial and creates a new offence of failing to stop and be searched when required to do so by a police officer or member of the armed forces. In January, the Secretary of state announced new regulations which will permit the silent video recording of RUC interrogations at "holding centres". This was recommended by Lord Colville in 1990. At the same time, a number of reviews of powers and procedures have been launched. Lord Lloyd of Berwick has been appointed with the following terms of reference: "to consider the future need for specific counter-terrorism in the UK if the cessation of terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland leads to a lasting peace, taking into account the continuing threat from other kinds of terrorism and the United Kingdom's obligations under international law". Lord Berwick is Chair of the Security Commission and of the Advisory Panel established under the 1971 Immigration Act to consider cases involving "issues of national security". A review of the police complaints system is being carried out and a report is due by the summer of 1996. Firearms legislation is also being reviewed by a team working under the direction of a steering committee consisting of "a senior Northern Ireland Office official" a senior (unnamed) RUC officer and "a person of standing with relevant experience". The team is due to report in August.