HO Responses

[Ross Anderson]

> What it undeniably says is 'One in two warrants is followed by (but may
> have no real connection with) an arrest for a serious crime

List members may recall the evolution of this factoid. It started off
with Nigel saying that about 2000 warrants were granted every year
resulting in 1000 arrests. People with some experience of criminal
cases and wiretaps immediately assumed this meant that 100 of the
2000 warrants each resulted in 10 arrests, and that the 1000 arrests
resulted in maybe 300 convictions.

However, a number of politicians (including the prime minister) have
now said that every other warrant results in an arrest. This is
almost certainly false. Does anyone know a Conservative or Liberal
member of parliament who can ask the necessary question, and thus
force an abject apology not just from Straw but from his boss?

Ross