§ MR. BURDETT-COUTTSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, when full notice is given of a public meeting to be held in the streets of London, under circumstances of obvious danger arising from industrial depression, it is in accordance with the practice of the Home Office to take the initiative in the defence of the public peace by giving such special directions to the police authorities as will support them in the unusual course of adopting severe coercive measures towards a public demonstration?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to say that when notice is given of a public meeting to be held in the streets, the custom is for the Commissioners of Police to take the initiative by issuing such orders to their men as they may think necessary for preserving the public peace, such orders being afterwards sent to the Home Office in a printed form, as I explained yesterday. I am not aware that any different course would be taken if there was danger of the peace being disturbed by industrial depression, though, no doubt, the conduct of the Police Authorities in dealing with open-air meetings are always guided by their knowledge of the objects of the meeting and the behaviour of those attending it.