Skip to main content

Anti-Jewish Literature

Volume 178: debated on Monday 29 October 1990

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he will list all cases of prosecutions brought by the Crown prosecution service since 1986 of anti-Jewish literature which has previously been brought to his attention by hon. Members or by organisations representing the Jewish community; and what was the outcome of those prosecutions.

Fifteen prosecutions for incitement to racial hatred have been brought under section 5A of the Public Order Act 1936, or under part III of the Public Order Act 1986, in 1986 and subsequent years. Of these, 11 prosecutions included allegations that anti-Jewish material had been published or distributed. Two such cases were drawn to my attention by hon. Members but none by organisations representing the Jewish community. Proceedings have been begun, but not concluded, in a further case which was brought to my attention by an hon. Member; this case, too, involves an allegation that anti-Jewish material has been distributed. The details requested of prosecutions that have been concluded are as follows:

Name of DefendantResult
J. Kinnon (X 2)Convicted
J. KinnonBound over
R. Trehane1Convicted
D. Cullingford1Convicted
R. Bearsford-Walker1Convicted
L. Bearsford-Walker1Convicted
K. Rowe1Convicted
S. Knight1Convicted
A. Shotton1Acquitted
A. Waite1Acquitted
D. Owens1Convicted
J. Tyndall1Convicted
J. Morse1Convicted
M. AtkinsonConvicted
1 Denotes a prosecution involving an allegation that anti-Jewish material was published or distributed.

To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiating proceedings in respect of the publication entitled "Jewish Tributes to Our Child Martyrs", distributed by the Gentile Self-Defence League.

The Director of Public Prosecutions can consider instituting criminal proceedings only once the police have placed before him evidence against an identifiable individual. The Metropolitan police, at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions, are conducting inquiries into the publication of this leaflet but to date have been unable to idenify or trace the persons responsible.