TNAG-0931-FCO40-1149-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 95

DER 11 (Revised)

DRAFT:

CONFIDENTIAL

miswty/letter/telekcitur/ideamtck/Anunte

FROM:

Secretary of State

TYPE: Draft/Final 14-

Reference

DEPARTMENT:

↑

TEL. NO:

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Prime Minister

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

1.

...In Confidence

CAVEAT.....

Enclosures-flag(s).

Your Reference

Copies to:

Lord Chancellor

Home Secretary Secretary of State fo:

Defence

SUBJECT: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

You should know of problems which might arise within the

next few months over the question of the death penalty in

dependent territories.

2. The current position is as described in the attached not

which was prepared for you in August when you saw MPs who ha

visited the British Virgin Islands. The issue of course

arouses strong political feelings, both in this country and

in the dependencies themselves. There is a body of opinion

here, with some support in Parliament, which maintains that

HMG should bring the dependent territories' practice into

line with the metropolitan power and, if necessary, impose

Such demands would obviously increase if execu-

tions were in prospect. On the other hand, local feeling in

those territories which retain the death penalty is generallj

strongly in favour of its use. Commutations can lead to

abolition,

protests and even violence.

ests

In 1978 a frigate was sent to

the British Virgin Islands in expectation of disturbances

when the Governor decided to commute.

3.

The position of the Governors is awkward. They have the

same sort of responsibility as that previously exercised by

Home Secretaries in the United Kingdom.

CONFIDENTIAL

They have to come

/to