HC Deb 11 November 1926 vol 199 cc1229-31
14. Mr. PARKINSON

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the police baton charge at Pemberton, Wigan, on 15th October, 1926, when the Chief Constable ordered the constables to charge the crowd and use their batons after he had told the crowd that he would give them five minutes to clear; if he is aware that after one minute the charge was ordered; that men, women and children were struck and knocked down indiscriminately; that, after the crowd had dispersed, the constables went through the village and struck people who had not been within half a mile of the place when the charge was ordered; and whether he will order an inquiry to be made into the circumstances under which the Chief Constable ordered the charge and the conduct of some of the constables who took part in the charge?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The hon. Member, I presume, refers to incidents which occurred on the 13th October, as to which I have received full reports. The police were compelled to charge because the crowd, instead of taking advantage of the Chief Constable's warning, made a rush at the police. No women and children were struck, but some, no doubt, were knocked down in the rush. A portion of the crowd collected again in a disorderly manner at a point about half a mile away, and were dispersed by the police, but batons were not used or drawn on this occasion. I see no ground for further action on my part.

Mr. PARKINSON

May I call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the fact that the men did not wish the police to deliver the charge while the women and children were there, but that a charge was deliberately ordered by the Chief Constable, and that women and children were struck down, that one girl 11 years of age was struck down.—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] May I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact.—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member can only ask a question.

Mr. PARKINSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one man was struck down and was deliberately kicked by a police constable on the leg while he was down; that in another case a woman vas struck down, and that a man of 60 was struck across the back by a constable with a baton?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Perhaps I had better read a portion of the report which I have received from the Chief Constable: I beg to inform yon that there is no truth in the statement that men, women, and children were struck and knocked down by the police. No women or children were struck, but, as there were many women present, a number of them certainly got knocked down in the rush. The police did all they could to assist the women out of the way.

Mr. PARKINSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only one minute was given for the crowd to disperse? The police manœuvred the people into a kind of cul de sac where they could neither move one way or the other. The Chief Constable gave them five minutes to clear, but in less than one minute a baton charge was ordered. Women were struck while standing in their own doorways, and others were also struck by the police. One man working on the local railway—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a man returning from his work on the railway was struck down by the police, that people going on their ordinary business were met by the police and struck, and that in one case a man coming from behind a house was met by two policemen —[Interruption.]

Mr. SPEAKER

That is entirely out of order.