HC Deb 11 July 1833 vol 19 cc608-10
Lord Althorp

rose to move for the appointment of a Select Committee, to inquire into the conduct of the Police on the occasion of the meeting in Coldbath-fields. He observed, that the verdict of the Jury on the Coroner's Inquest, and the decision of the Jury on the subsequent trial at the Old Bailey, rendered this course desirable. The meeting in question was clearly assembled for an illegal object, and did not become illegal in consequence of tumult. The police, consequently, were instructed to prevent the assembling of the meeting, but were ordered to use no violence in the discharge of that duty, except it were necessary for the arrest of any persons who might take a lead in the proceedings. But they were assailed on their appearance; they were pelted with stones before they exercised any violence whatever to-wards the assembly. It was possible that, under these circumstances, some of the body might have behaved with more violence than the occasion required; he believed, however, that, upon inquiry, it would turn out, that they did, as a body, conduct themselves conformably to the instructions they received, and did not use any violence until attacked. He believed, that the Jury, by their verdict, on the late trial, did not wish to cast any blame upon the police, but came to the decision they did solely because the identity of the person charged was not clearly proved. This he would also add, that as far as the Government had made inquiries into the subject, they had come to the conclusion, that the police were not materially to blame in the proceedings in question. But for the reason he had stated, he should move, that "a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the conduct of the Metropolitan Police, on the 13th of May last, in dispersing a public meeting in Coldbath-fields."

Sir H. Hardinge

asked, whether the instructions which were given to the police would come under the investigation of the Select Committee.

Lord Althorp

said, that the instructions under which the police acted must certainly be brought before the Committee.

Motion agreed to.