HC Deb 28 March 1968 vol 761 cc1709-10
26. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with police authorities about sharing the extra cost of controlling student demonstrations which falls on the police in university towns.

Mr. Taverne

None, Sir.

Mr. Goodhart

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman think it fair that the considerable expense of trying to control these demonstrations should be largely borne by local ratepayers, when local residents are rarely involved?

Mr. Taverne

This problem is part of the general duties of the police and most police forces are faced from time to time with tasks which make special demands on them. There can be no question of making special financial provision for such eventualities, since it would be quite wrong to take out one special kind of problem and treat it differently from others.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Nevertheless, would the hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that, if a football club wishes to have extra police because of a situation of potential crowding or violence, it has to pay for it?

Mr. Taverne

This is so, not if they want extra police but if they want any police: this is done by contractual arrangement and is quite a different matter.

Mr. Luard

Is it not a fact that the amount of time devoted by police in university cities to this kind of operation is a tiny proportion of their total activity?

Mr. Taverne

My hon. Friend is quite correct.