HC Deb 04 December 1947 vol 445 cc543-4
10. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police, and from which Divisions, were on duty on the evening of 27th November, at Wilmott Street, Bethnal Green, to protect Sir Oswald Mosley; who was the officer in charge; from what routine duties these police were removed; and what was the cost of maintaining these forces on duty for this purpose.

Mr. Ede

The greatest number of police officers on duty at any one time on the evening of 27th November, in connection with this meeting, was 97, under the Acting Superintendent, H. Division. Reinforcements were draw from beat and patrol duties in two neighbouring Divisions without additional cost to public funds. It was necessary to employ this number of police to prevent a breach of the peace being caused by opponents of the meeting who, by means of a motorcar with a loudspeaker, incited a crowd to assemble near the premises, and there was reason to apprehend organised violence.

Mr. Gallacher

Is not the Minister aware that, if this large body of police had not been employed for that purpose, there would have been no disturbance, as this man would not have come out unless he had been assured that a large body of police were at his disposal?

Mr. Ede

This man has no body of police at his disposal, and no assurance of any body of police being at his disposal, beyond the assurance that every citizen of this country has with regard to the police force.

Earl Winterton

Is it not the case that the majority of these police were used to prevent the Communists fighting their natural allies, the Fascists?

Mr. Ede

I do not think that is a bad description.

Mr. Gallacher

Is the Minister aware that, before the war, this man proposed to come to Glasgow, but that when the police said that they could not protect him if he came to Glasgow, he did not come?

Mr. Ede

That seems to me to be a reflection on the Glasgow police, which I do not endorse.

Mrs. Leah Manning

Am I to understand from my right hon. Friend's original reply that the rest of the streets in this town were left unprotected because the police were taken off their beats?

Mr. Ede

No, the hon. Lady should not draw that deduction, although, undoubtedly, the strength of the police force for its ordinary duties was weakened on that evening.

Mr. Speaker

This individual is getting a lot of publicity.