§ 40. Mr. GROVESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on whose authority the police attended the Fascist meeting held at Stratford on Wednesday, 24th July; whether their attendance was requested before or during the meeting; and how many police were inside the hall and the reason for their attendance?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)Twenty-four police officers were posted in the town hall during the meeting in question by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as a precautionary measure to deal with any breaches of the peace that might occur. The attendance of the police was not asked for either before or during the meeting.
§ Mr. GROVESMay we assume that, as there was no occasion to use the police, there was therefore no disorder?
§ Mr. JANNERWill the right hon. Gentleman consider making inquiries with a view to dealing with the aggressive visits of these people to districts where many of the people whom they slander live, particularly in view of the good feeling that exists between the Jewish and non-Jewish communities who live there, in consequence of their knowledge of each other?
§ Sir J. SIMONI hardly think that the latter of the supplementary questions 2476 arises out of the original question. As regards the first, I would explain to the hon. Member that there is no doubt that, when a meeting is announced which is open to the public, the police, who, after all, are members of the public, are entitled to attend; and in this case the presence of a certain number of policemen was considered by the Commissioner to be desirable.
§ Mr. GROVESAs the right hon. Gentleman has stated that the police were there to deal with any disorder, and as their services were not required, may I reasonably assume that there was no disorder?
§ Sir J. SIMONI cannot say whether there was disorder or not, but I am quite sure that, if their services had actually been required, they would have rendered those services.
§ Mr. GROVESThey were not required.
§ 41. Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that at the Fascist meeting at Stratford Town Hall, on Wednesday, 24th July, an uniformed member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was attacked by the stewards with no provocation; and why the police did not protect this man from assault?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir; I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the police who were present in the hall report that no uniformed member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was assaulted.
§ 42. Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that mounted policemen charged an orderly crowd assembled outside the Town Hall, Stratford, on the occasion of the Fascist meeting at Stratford Town Hall, Wednesday, 24th July, and on one occasion charged a crowd of women and children down Cullum Street, resulting in injuries to two women; and whether any damage to property has been reported on this occasion?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there was no charge by mounted police either outside the hall or in Cullum Street, or anywhere else, and that the police have no knowledge of any women being injured as a result of police 2477 action. The only damage to property known to the police is that a beacon was broken.
§ Mr. GROVESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difficulty of getting this thing put right by question and answer? In view of the inadequacy of his information, I beg to give notice that I will raise this on Friday and produce the proofs of the charges made on innocent people leaving a cinema at 10.20.