Disturbances (Liverpool) (Hansard, 7 July 1981)

§ Mr. Anthony Steen (Liverpool, Wavertree)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the breakdown of law and order in Liverpool and the continued damage, looting and violence in the inner city".

Last night was the third night of rioting, pillaging, looting, arson and violence and the breakdown of law and order in Liverpool. The police say that they can no longer guarantee the safety of any person or his property. The fabric of society is under attack from marauding gangs of youths and militant thugs. Last night, the situation worsened. Far from the violence abating, it has fanned outwards, becoming more indiscriminate, more senseless and less containable.

In Toxteth, 300 youths roamed the streets at about midnight, hurling stones; the police charged with batons. A mile away, a jeweller's shop was pillaged and a supermarket looted. Young people smashed the windows, while their friends and families waited outside with trolleys, suitcases and prams to steal and pillage. A five-year-old child was seen filling his pillow case.

Near the waterfront, shops and property were set on fire and ransacked. The violence did not stop there but spilled over into my constituency, where six buses were stolen and shop owners were threatened with violence and destruction.

There is mounting fear and growing anxiety all over Liverpool. About 40 vehicles have been hijacked and used as battering rams or set alight. Extensive damage to street lighting, roads and fencing is also evident. Showrooms, private houses, shops, store rooms, banks, and furniture stores have been burned and destroyed.

Millions of pounds of public and private and public investment are laid waste. Shops are boarded up. New cars are being moved from showrooms. Trucks are being moved from British Rail at Lime Street. City centre stores are putting away their goods and putting up their shutters, preparing for the next wave of violence. Liverpool is in a state of siege, with waves of violence spilling out from the epicentre at Toxteth to the rest of the city.

Over the weekend, 77 people were arrested. Last night alone a further 75 were arrested, including 10 teenage girls. Two thousand police are standing by, and 200 have already been injured, 41 of whom were seriously injured and are still in hospital. Rumour has it that the disruption may soon spread to schools, where provocative leaflets are being distributed. The situation is volatile and inflammatory. Liverpool could become another Ulster—a barricaded city, but on the mainland.

We are witnessing anarchy, destruction and uncontrolled hostility towards the police and authority. A new kind of civil war is being waged, where neighbour steals from neighbour and the enemy is authority, law and order.

As the Mother of Parliaments, we must be seen to defend our citizens. This is an attack on us all. I respectfully ask the House to recognise that there is a state of emergency in Liverpool that demands urgent and immediate debate.

§ Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Steen) gave me notice this morning before 271 12 o'clock that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the breakdown of law and order in Liverpool and the continued damage, looting and violence in the inner city. I received a similar application before 12 o'clock yesterday morning from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton). When the hon. Gentleman heard yesterday afternoon's exchanges, he withdrew his application at my request.

The House knows that I am required to take into account the several factors set out in Standing Order No. 9 but to give no reasons for my decision. The House and the country are aware of the seriousness of the situation, but, without going into reasons, I must say that, having listened to yesterday's exchanges on the matter, I cannot submit the hon. Gentleman's application to the House.