HC Deb 12 February 1948 vol 447 cc551-4
16. Mr. Bramall

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who authorised police constables to check that persons seeking admittance to the conference held by Sir Oswald Mosley's Union Movement in Wilfred Street schools, Victoria Street, were holders of admission tickets; and whether it is the normal practice for police to perform this function at political meetings.

18 and 19. Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers were on duty at the Wilfred Street schools, Westminster, on Saturday evening the 7th February, 1948, on the occasion of a meeting held there by Sir Oswald Mosley;

(2) on whose authority were instructions issued to the police officers on duty at the Wilfred Street schools on Saturday evening, 7th February, to prevent access by the public to that street, and whether it was part of the duty of the police on that occasion to act as stewards for the meeting.

22. Mr. Austin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any further statement to make on the activities of Fascists, following on their organised revival; and whether his attention has been called to the unusually large forces of police required on every occasion of their public activity.

23. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any statement to make on the recrudescence of Fascism; how many additional police were on duty at or in the neighbourhood of the meeting held by Sir O. Mosley in Westminster on Saturday, 7th February; and if he will place in the Library of the House a complete transcript of speeches and statements made at the meeting.

24. Captain Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were on duty at the meeting held by Sir Oswald Mosley and the Union Movement at Wilfred Street schools, Westminster, on Saturday, 7th February; for how many hours were they so employed; and what was the estimated cost to public funds.

27. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were on duty at or near Wilfred Street schools, Westminster, on Saturday evening, 7th February; what was the nature of their duties there; and what other duties were consequently neglected.

Mr. Ede

Thirty-nine police officers were on duty at or near this meeting for seven hours; six of these officers were employed for about an hour at a neighbouring opposition meeting. The work of maintaining order was performed as an ordinary tour of duty, so that no question of additional cost to public funds arises. The steps taken to exclude from Wilfred Street during part of the time persons who had no business to do there were taken on the instructions of the senior police officer in charge, who, I am informed, had reasonable cause to believe that an attempt would be made, by opponents of the meeting, to cause disorder in the immediate neighbourhood. This was a private meeting. Reports of part of it have appeared in the Press, but, until I can be assured that they are full and accurate, it would be inadvisable to place them in the Library.

Mr. Bramall

Would my right hon. Friend say whether it is normal practice, even in the case of a private meeting, for the police to check whether the persons who approach that meeting are, in fact, in possession of tickets, and does not he consider that that is a job for the stewards?

Mr. Ede

No, Sir, it is the duty of the police to prevent a breach of the peace. It was quite evident that there was a number of people who desired to get to this meeting to create a breach of the peace.

Mr. Austin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there reposes in the administration of this Government a sacred trust for the preservation and safeguarding of democracy, and that there is a tremendous danger that democracy may be undermined by the forces of Fascism if untoward licence is given to people like Mosley in this country?

Mr. Ede

Unfortunately, the forces trying to undermine democracy in this country are not limited to those people.

Mr. Driberg

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, although this revived Fascist movement is insignificant at present, it might become a more serious danger if the economic situation were to deteriorate sharply, and, with that in mind, could he say when he proposes to make a general statement on his attitude towards this movement, as asked for in two of these Questions?

Mr. Ede

I am not at all sure that the greatest incentive towards the growth of this movement is not the advertisement given to it from time to time by its opponents. The House can rest assured that I keep this matter under very close observation, and I shall not hesitate to ask the House for additional powers if they appear to be necessary. Up to the moment, I am convinced that the existing powers of the law are quite adequate to deal with the situation.

Mr. Piratin

If this meeting was a private one, can the right hon. Gentleman say how the police came to be informed about it at all; and, further, if, as he has said, they were carrying out their normal duties, does it mean that there is an excess of police in this part of London, and, if so, how is it that it is a centre of vice in London?

Mr. Ede

The police received notice from the promoters that they intended to hold this meeting. They also observed that a number of people who are notoriously anxious that these meetings should not be held, and who are prepared to exercise physical violence to prevent them, were in the neighbourhood of the meeting. Therefore, they thought it necessary to take the steps which, in fact, they did take, in order to prevent a breach of the peace occurring.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

I think we have had enough supplementaries on this Question.

Mr. Piratin

On a point of Order. I wish to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

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