Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are provided with all documents produced by counter terrorism police as advice to their partners about whether an individual constitutes a terrorist or domestic extremist; whether they are consulted prior to the publication of such advice to partners; and whether they can veto or edit the publication both in print or online.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Counter terrorism police produce assessments of risk. Police retain operational independence for such documents. The Home Office is not provided with all such documents.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of counter terrorism police having labelled the Hunt Saboteurs Association as a domestic extremist organisation in their advice to partners and others regarding the use of symbols.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
These decisions are operational ones for policing. Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what definition they use to establish which groups the police can reasonably label as domestic extremists; and which groups so labelled do not meet that definition.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government’s definition of extremism is set out in the 2015 Counter-Extremism Strategy. The strategy defines extremism as: ‘the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also regard calls for the death of members of our armed forces as extremist.’
There is no legal definition of extremism. It is an operational matter for the police what definitions they choose to use.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prevent strategy is supported by a list of extremist symbols and flags; and if so, how an organisation can appeal against inclusion in such a list.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Prevent strategy does not contain a list of extremist symbols or flags.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has had access to intelligence on trade unionists provided by Special Branch or undercover officers; and whether ACPO has sold (1) any such information, and (2) other information held on the Police National Computer, to the Consulting Association.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has ceased operating. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has assumed some of ACPO’s functions. The NPCC is an independent organisation and is a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. The Inquiry will consider any evidence provided by the NPCC that relates to information provided by undercover police officers.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) the Home Office, and (2) the Metropolitan Police Service, intend to provide position statements to the Mitting Inquiry, setting out (a) their respective responsibilities for undercover policing, (b) their assessment of failings in respect of such policing, and (c) who was responsible for any such failings; and if so, whether they will publish those statements.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Undercover Policing Inquiry was set up by the then Home Secretary to inquire into and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. Under the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, this includes identifying and assessing the adequacy of the statutory, policy and judicial regulation of undercover policing and ascertaining the state of awareness of undercover police operations of Her Majesty’s Government. The Home Office is a Core Participant and, in addition to ongoing voluntary disclosure, is providing such assistance as is requested of it by the Inquiry. The Metropolitan Police Service is independent of Government and decisions on their statements and disclosure to the Inquiry are a matter for them. The Inquiry will report on its findings once all evidence has been reviewed.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to paying compensation to those construction workers who were blacklisted as a result of information supplied to industry bodies by Special Branch and undercover police.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Police are independent of Government and decisions relating to compensation are a matter for them.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 31 January (HL5018), what are the scientific and technical standards for their mobile drug screening technology; and how positive results are validated.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Guide to Type Approval Procedures for Mobile Preliminary Drug Testing Devices used for Transport Law Enforcement in Great Britain contains a description of the requirements to be met for consideration of type approval for screening device. This is found at the following link : www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-preliminary-drug-testing-devices
Roadside drug driving screeners provide an indication of delta-9-THC (the main active component in cannabis) present in a motorist’s system. Delta-9-THC metabolite of cannabis can remain detectable for up to several hours.
Following a positive screening result for suspected drug driving, the police obtain two samples of blood for analysis. One sample is provided to the alleged offender, who can submit their sample for independent testing at a laboratory of their own choice. The police submit the other blood sample to an accredited laboratory for analysis in line with guidance on sample storage and delivery.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 31 January (HL5018), what is their estimate of the length of time after ingesting cannabis that a person continues to test positive.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Guide to Type Approval Procedures for Mobile Preliminary Drug Testing Devices used for Transport Law Enforcement in Great Britain contains a description of the requirements to be met for consideration of type approval for screening device. This is found at the following link : www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-preliminary-drug-testing-devices
Roadside drug driving screeners provide an indication of delta-9-THC (the main active component in cannabis) present in a motorist’s system. Delta-9-THC metabolite of cannabis can remain detectable for up to several hours.
Following a positive screening result for suspected drug driving, the police obtain two samples of blood for analysis. One sample is provided to the alleged offender, who can submit their sample for independent testing at a laboratory of their own choice. The police submit the other blood sample to an accredited laboratory for analysis in line with guidance on sample storage and delivery.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to establish whether technology is available to distinguish between cannabis being in a driver's system, and that driver being impaired by having taken cannabis within 24 hours of driving; and what conclusions they have drawn.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has developed mobile drug screening technology to support drug driving legislation. Screening devices were first introduced for police use in December 2014. These provide the police with technology to enforce the new offence introduced by the Crime and Courts Act 2013 which made it illegal to drive with one (or more) specified drugs in the body above a specified limit with effect from 2 March 2015. Cannabis is one of the specified drugs.