Clause 3 - Certificates of eligibility
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
10:30 am
David Hanson (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office; Delyn, Labour)
That is a potential issue, but is possible for an individual who is applying in connection with various crimes to say that he wishes to confess to the police that he committed an alleged crime, and that he can supply information about it, but that person might have all the details of how the alleged crime was committed because he is providing cover for another individual, whom he knows well and who will not now be charged for that crime. A person who knows that he will be charged with crimes anyway might decide to take the rap for another crime. He may know the individual who committed that crime and have all the details to link himself to it. It is perfectly feasible that an individual might come along with a credible tale about a particular incident and give details that would be known only to the perpetrator, because he knows the perpetrator. He could confess to a crime that he did not commit to cover for his acquaintance, who could give him legitimate information linking him to the crime. In that way, a person could adopt the identity of the perpetrator.
I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point, but it would be possible in a range of circumstances for an individual to confess to a crime, to give factual information about it, to know the details and to give information known only to the perpetrator, but not to be the perpetrator. It is possible for another person to take the rap for the perpetrator. I accept the hon. Gentleman’s point, but it would still be difficult for the police to determine whether the individual who gives them factual information is, in fact, the individual who committed the crime. It is perfectly possible for someone to have very close associations with, and to protect the identity of, key individuals with very public personas who committed crimes in the past.