§ 25. Mr. Ashbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables about how they plan to review and learn from police operations during the coal dispute.
§ Mr. Giles ShawChief officers of police are reviewing police operations during the miners strike both individually and collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers. These reviews will be completed as soon as possible and the Department will be keeping in touch with their progress.
§ Mr. AshbyWill my hon. Friend please also consider the financial aspects of policing in the different authorities?
§ Mr. ShawI understand that we have a lot to learn about the way in which financial consequences can properly be accounted for and dealt with.
§ Mr. BarronNow that the miners's strike has ended—even officially it seems—will the Minister reconsider his Department's decision not to have a public inquiry into the strike? May we have a full public inquiry so that people can properly examine policing methods in the last 12 months?
§ Mr. ShawNo, I shall not reconsider that decision. A full review of what occurred is being conducted by the Association of Chief Police Officers, and each area will receive its own report on the different aspects of the strike.