Prior to the start of General Purpose Force training on 11 June 2014, the UK had several discussions with the Libyan government about the selection and vetting of the Libyan trainees. These conversations also included representations from the United States and Italy.

The Libyan government provided trainee candidates who had been through Libyan vetting and selection processes. These candidates were then subject to additional UK vetting in Libya, to ensure that those selected met Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Home Office requirements on security, immigration, medical, physical, literacy and numeracy criteria; in addition, the selected cohort comprised a suitable geographic representation of Libya. Home Office visa processes included checks against UK criminal databases and a visa declaration by all trainees which confirmed that they held no criminal convictions or charges in the UK or elsewhere.

We are not aware that any of those candidates who passed UK screening had criminal convictions or faced charges at that time in the UK or elsewhere.

During the course of training the Libyan General Purpose Force (GPF) we are aware of sixteen individuals being arrested. Of these five have been remanded in custody while facing the following criminal charges:

Three counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of exposure.

Three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft of a pedal cycle.

Two counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress against a police officer.

One count of rape.

One count of rape.

All other trainees at Bassingbourn have been returned to Libya.

A team has been set up to produce for the Defence Secretary before Christmas an objective report into the GPF training. It is led by a MOD senior civil servant who was not involved in the original work, supported by a senior civil servant loaned from another Government Department to provide an additional element of independence and challenge.

An important component of the Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme is the introduction of lay observation. The Scheme’s guidance makes it clear that forces have discretion to determine the most appropriate arrangements to support this. This allows the public, including interested organisations, to observe stop and search in action.

Female genital mutilation is an extremely harmful practice which the government is committed to tackling. We are strengthening the law on FGM. The Serious Crime Bill includes provisions to extend extra-territorial jurisdiction over
offences of FGM committed abroad, to provide lifelong anonymity for victims of FGM, and to create a new offence of failing to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. We are also introducing a new civil protection order to protect victims or
potential victims of FGM.

We are improving the police response to FGM working with the College of Policing and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The College of Policing is introducing a new authorised professional practice on FGM to raise awareness amongst investigators and better equip them to tackle the practice. In addition, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will be conducting a force level inspection on the police response to so-called honour based violence with a focus on FGM.

In order to support local areas the government has launched an e-learning tool so that all front line practitioners are able to undertake an introduction to FGM. The government is also funding training for Local Safeguarding Children
Boards which will be delivered this financial year and has launched an online FGM resource for local areas. The aim of the resource is to emphasise what works in tackling FGM and highlight examples where effective practice has been
identified.

The government has part funded a new study by Equality Now and City University into the prevalence of female genital mutilation in England and Wales. The interim report, published in July 2014, has estimated that approximately 60,000
girls aged 0-14 were born in England and Wales to mothers who had had FGM, and that approximately 103,000 women aged 15-49 and approximately 24,000 women aged 50 and over who have migrated to England and Wales are living with the consequences of FGM. In addition, approximately 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have suffered FGM. The full report, with data disaggregated to a local level, will be released in the new year.

In addition, since April 2014 NHS staff have been required to record in a patient’s healthcare record whenever it is identified that the patient has suffered FGM. This applies to all NHS clinicians and healthcare professionals
across the NHS. The collection became mandatory on 1 September 2014.The first aggregated monthly data return from acute hospital providers in England, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, reported that in
September 2014 there were 1,279 patients identified as having undergone FGM prior to the reporting period, who were still being actively seen or treated for FGM-related conditions or any other non-related condition, and 467 newly
identified cases of FGM nationally.

The government does not hold information on the number of arrests related to FGM in the UK.

Female genital mutilation is an extremely harmful practice which the government is committed to tackling. We are strengthening the law on FGM. The Serious Crime Bill includes provisions to extend extra-territorial jurisdiction over
offences of FGM committed abroad, to provide lifelong anonymity for victims of FGM, and to create a new offence of failing to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. We are also introducing a new civil protection order to protect victims or
potential victims of FGM.

We are improving the police response to FGM working with the College of Policing and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The College of Policing is introducing a new authorised professional practice on FGM to raise awareness amongst investigators and better equip them to tackle the practice. In addition, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will be conducting a force level inspection on the police response to so-called honour based violence with a focus on FGM.

In order to support local areas the government has launched an e-learning tool so that all front line practitioners are able to undertake an introduction to FGM. The government is also funding training for Local Safeguarding Children
Boards which will be delivered this financial year and has launched an online FGM resource for local areas. The aim of the resource is to emphasise what works in tackling FGM and highlight examples where effective practice has been
identified.

The government has part funded a new study by Equality Now and City University into the prevalence of female genital mutilation in England and Wales. The interim report, published in July 2014, has estimated that approximately 60,000
girls aged 0-14 were born in England and Wales to mothers who had had FGM, and that approximately 103,000 women aged 15-49 and approximately 24,000 women aged 50 and over who have migrated to England and Wales are living with the consequences of FGM. In addition, approximately 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have suffered FGM. The full report, with data disaggregated to a local level, will be released in the new year.

In addition, since April 2014 NHS staff have been required to record in a patient’s healthcare record whenever it is identified that the patient has suffered FGM. This applies to all NHS clinicians and healthcare professionals
across the NHS. The collection became mandatory on 1 September 2014.The first aggregated monthly data return from acute hospital providers in England, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, reported that in
September 2014 there were 1,279 patients identified as having undergone FGM prior to the reporting period, who were still being actively seen or treated for FGM-related conditions or any other non-related condition, and 467 newly
identified cases of FGM nationally.

The government does not hold information on the number of arrests related to FGM in the UK.

We are aware of the arrest of 15 women on 16 November on suspicion of disrupting the electoral process, belonging to an illegal group and calling for the overthrow of the government. We understand that all of them have now been released, but investigations into 12 individuals continue. Our Embassy in Bahrain will continue to monitor these cases.

Arrests related to hate crime are not separately identifiable from arrests data reported centrally to the Home Office.

Data provided by the Ministry of Justice on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to acts intended to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, under Sections 29B to 29G of the Public Order Act 1986, in England, from 2004-2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in table 1. The data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on court proceedings do not specifically identify whether the offence prosecuted was on grounds of religious hatred or sexual orientation.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to acts intended to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, under Sections 29B to 29G of the Public Order Act 1986, in Greater London, from 2004-2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in table 2.

Data for the offences requested is not available at constituency level.

Arrests related to hate crime are not separately identifiable from arrests data reported centrally to the Home Office.

Data provided by the Ministry of Justice on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to acts intended to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, under Sections 29B to 29G of the Public Order Act 1986, in England, from 2004-2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in table 1. The data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on court proceedings do not specifically identify whether the offence prosecuted was on grounds of religious hatred or sexual orientation.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to acts intended to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, under Sections 29B to 29G of the Public Order Act 1986, in Greater London, from 2004-2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in table 2.

Data for the offences requested is not available at constituency level.

I understand that Zainab Al-Khawaja was released on bail on 19 November. Her next court hearing will be on 9 December for charges under Bahrain’s "lese majeste" law. The British Ambassador to Bahrain has raised the case at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain and emphasised the importance of ensuring that due legal process is respected and international norms of justice adhered to. I will continue to monitor the case closely.

Section 24a of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 gives citizens a power of arrest for indictable offences. Liability to be prosecuted as a result of making such an arrest is an operational matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Crown Prosecution Service has published comprehensive guidance on this matter on its website. This can be found at the following link:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/self_defence/#Civilian_Powers_of

I regret that the requested arrests data are not collected centrally.

The Northern Ireland Office does not hold the information requested as it relates to a devolved matter. The hon Gentleman may wish to write to the Department of Justice regarding the information requested.

The stalking offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2A (stalking) and 4A (stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress), have been available from 25 November 2012. The two stalking offences provide further options for prosecutors when considering charges relating to harassing behaviour. The section 2A offence has a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine, and the section 4A offence has a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.

A court dealing with a person convicted of any offence, including those under sections 2, 2A, 4 or 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, may make a restraining order prohibiting the defendant from doing anything described in the order. This order can be made in addition to a custodial sentence or other sentence. The order can be especially useful in preventing continued stalking and harassment by defendants, including those who are given sentences of imprisonment. Breach of a restraining order has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for our independent courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case.

The number of restraining orders issued at all courts and those found guilty of breach of a restraining order under the Protection of Harassment Act 1997 in England and Wales from 2011 to 2013 (latest available) can be viewed in table 1.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court, found guilty and sentenced at all courts, with sentencing breakdown, for selected offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England & Wales, from 2012 to 2013, can be viewed in table 2. The Ministry of Justice does not hold figures on cases not yet dealt with.

So far this year more than 100 people have been arrested across the country on suspicion of terrorist offences related to Syria.

The data requested is not available.

Centrally held data on arrests and convictions for fraud held by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice respectively cannot separately identify whether they were a result of phishing scams.

Available data on arrests relate to the South Yorkshire police force area only, and are provided in the table. Data on arrests in the Barnsley East
constituency area are not reported centrally.

Data for 2013/14 will be published in spring 2015.

The information requested on arrests is not available centrally. Data on arrests for drug offences reported to the Home Office cannot be separated to identify arrests for possession of specific drug classes.

The Coalition Government strongly supports local investment in Integrated Offender Management approaches, including identifying drug-using offenders anddirecting them to treatment. This includes the provision of drug recovery wing pilots, focused on abstinence and connecting offenders with community drug recovery services on release, and testing an end-to-end approach to tackle addiction in the adult resettlement prisons in the North West, aimed at improving access for people with drug and/or alcohol dependency in custody and ‘Through the Prison Gate’ to existing treatment and associated health services in the community.

In addition we are currently working to provide access to Liaison and Diversion services, which operate by referring offenders who are identified as having mental health needs including substance misuse to an appropriate treatment or support service, as soon as they come into contact with the criminal justice system. This could be via voluntary attendance at a police station, in a custody suite or at court.

The requested arrests data are not collected centrally.