§ 53. Colonel DAYasked the Home Secretary whether there are any special police regulations in the Metropolitan police area, especially in the district within one mile from Charing Cross, that prohibit police officers from being called into places of amusement to restore order in case of disturbances; and the number of police officers that were engaged either on patrol or point duty between the hours of 7 and 12 on the evening of Tuesday, 13th December, in the C or E divisions in the Metropolitan police area?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe reply to the first part of the question is that there are no such regulations. As regards the second part, 193 officers on C Division and 221 on E Division did patrol or point duty during the period in question, but not all were on duty for the whole of the period.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on this occasion there were very grave and serious occurrences at many West End theatres, and on occasions like the Oxford and Cambridge matches and "rags" of that kind will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of increasing the police 27 force in the West End so that the closing of theatres and riots of this kind will not take place?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI hope that in future there will be no need to increase the police force on the occasions in question.
§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the proprietors of theatres and music halls will be able to get any compensation from the London County Council for the very serious damage that was done inside those places?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThat is a legal question that I could not possibly answer.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes the Home Secretary not admit that some very disgraceful things happened on that particular night, and does he not think that these people should be dealt with in some way or other?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have had my attention drawn to this matter. All I can say is that I regret what took place, and I think they will not be repeated in the future.
§ Mr. THORNEMay I ask whether the heads of the universities are going to take any action in regard to this matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have no information at the present time on that point.
§ Colonel DAYFor the protection of the public, will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the heads of the universities, and ask them, to see that such disgraceful scenes do not occur again in the West End?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI must ask hon. Members to leave this matter for the moment in my hands.
§ Mr. THORNEIf they had been gas workers you would have dealt with them.