HC Deb 28 October 1943 vol 393 cc361-2
25. Sir H. Williams

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to an incident at the Town Hall, Finsbury, on 18th October, when, despite the standing orders of the council to the contrary, a sergeant and a police constable threatened forcibly to eject certain councillors who were exercising their right to listen to the proceedings of a special committee of which they were not members; and what action he proposes taking in the matter?

Mr. H. Morrison

I have made inquiry into this matter and I understand that the sergeant and constable were requested by the chairman of a committee to eject four councillors, who were not members of the committee and in respect of whom a resolution had been passed by the committee requiring them to retire. The police officers inquired whether all the necessary formalities in accordance with the standing orders of the council had been complied with, and were informed by the chairman that the committee's resolution was sufficient for this purpose. The chairman then, in the presence of the police officers, requested the four councillors to withdraw. As they refused to comply with this request, the police officers informed the councillors that they must leave and that if they did not they would be ejected, if necessary by force. The councillors thereupon left the meeting. In these circumstances I can find no ground for questioning the conduct of the police officers.

Sir H. Williams

Has my right hon. Friend verified whether the police officers were actually acting in accord with the standing orders?

Mr. Morrison

My hon. Friend and I, perhaps I more than he, are very familiar with municipal standing orders, and honestly, while I expect my policemen to be experts about many things, I do not expect them to be experts about a council's standing orders. I think the only thing they could do was to ask for an assurance from the chairman that the action was in accordance with the standing orders and, having received his reply, to act accordingly. I think the fundamental responsibility is with the chairman and not the police.

Sir H. Williams

Surely if councillors are forcibly ejected by the police and the police are acting on wrong information they would be liable for assault; they would not be justified in taking action because someone told them they could. Would it not be worth while for my right hon. Friend to find out whether in fact the standing orders were complied with?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think I want to go any further. If there are possible actions about I had better keep out of it. My hon. Friend, like me, is a member of the London County Council and he will know that there are about 500 standing orders and 2,000 regulations and many committee rules, and neither he nor I could stand cross-examination upon many of them.