HC Deb 10 May 1887 vol 314 cc1461-2
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the chief officer at the Kennington Road Police Station is correctly reported as having given the following reply to a request, on the part of the promoters of a public meeting, for protection, on Sunday last—namely— If you assemble here and attract opposition, I shall hold you responsible, and deal with you. If you hold no meeting there can be no disturbance; if you do hold one, and opposition arrives, I shall hold you responsible for attracting that opposition, and I shall have you moved on pretty quickly; and, if this report is accurate, will he state under what authority the police were acting on this occasion?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART WORTLEY) (Sheffield, Hallam)

(who replied) said: I am informed by the Chief Commissioner of Police that Superintendent Brennan, who was chief officer on the occasion to which the hon. Member refers, states that he made no such reply, nor used any words to that effect, and that the report is entirely incorrect.