HC Deb 10 May 1923 vol 163 cc2559-61
38. Mr. MOSLEY

asked the Home Secretary whether the officer responsible for the police arrangements in connection with the football cup final at Wembley received a letter despatched on 23rd April from the British Empire Exhibition authorities, giving warning of the danger of an attendance exceeding the capacity of the Stadium and asking for a supply of police which, in the opinion of the police authorities, would be adequate to deal with such a situation; if so, whether any reply was sent to this letter; and what action was taken?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I understand that a letter to this effect was received by the superintendent of the division. He was in constant touch with the exhibition authorities both before and after the date mentioned, and, as I stated last week, the number of police to be provided was settled in consultation with them and, in addition, a large number was held in reserve.

Mr. MOSLEY

Are we to understand that the number of police supplied was supplied not on the estimate of the exhibition authorities, but on the estimate of the police?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

No. You are to understand what I have said in my answer.

Mr. MOSLEY

Is it not a fact that the letter in question asked the police to supply the number of police which was, in the opinion of the police authorities, sufficient to deal with a danger of which they had definite warning beforehand?

Mr. J. JONES

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the proportion of the crowd as compared with the number of police, and is he prepared to say who are the authorities responsible for the conditions created at Wembley?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I cannot give those figures off-hand. The police and the authorities at Wembley are considering what precautions are necessary to avoid in future anything of the same kind. As I have said already, the number of police was settled in consultation between the police authorities and the exhibition authorities.

Mr. MOSLEY

Is it not a fact that the exhibition authorities asked the police to supply the number of police which, in their opinion, was necessary to deal with a danger of which they had been warned? Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that responsibility or not?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I have not seen the letter in question, but I do not see that it makes the slightest difference to what I have said.

Mr. HAYES

Would it not be unreasonable to estimate the number of police required beyond the capacity of the building or premises, for admission to which the public are going to pay, and therefore it is not reasonable if the number seeking admission exceeded by thousands the capacity of the premises that inadequate police arrangement were made, so that no blame attaches either to the police authorities or the Stadium authorities?

39. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Home Secretary whether the police supplied to the Stadium at Wembley for the Football Cup Final on 28th April were paid for out of public funds or by the Stadium proprietors; whether the extra police ordered up to deal with the large crowd were paid for by the same authorities; whether the mounted and foot police who were employed at the Stadium and the approaches thereto received any extra pay or allowances for the strenuous work they performed; and will he state what the amount was?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The exhibition authorities have been charged with the cost of police supplied by arrangement with them for duty at the Stadium, but not with the cost of the additional police held in reserve or those subsequently called in. Men employed beyond their ordinary duty period would receive either "time off" or payment in lieu, and in some cases refreshment allowance under the usual conditions, but no special payment is made in respect of the strenuous nature of the duty. The last part of the question therefore does not arise.

Mr. MOSLEY

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it proper to accept responsibility for this matter and not shelter behind the exhibition authorities?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

That does not arise out of the: question, but I take full responsibility for what the police have done and I have said already that I believe that they acted with great propriety in the matter.