§ 2.39 p.m.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to prevent mob 810 violence in the Brick Lane area of the East End of London and in particular whether they are satisfied with the level of police manpower available in the area.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is responsible for the investigation of crime and the maintenance of order in the Metropolitan Police District. It is for him to decide on the allocation of police manpower within his force area in the light of his assessment of policing needs. I understand from the Commissioner that he has reinforced police strengths in the division which serves the area referred to in the Question in order to try to prevent any recurrence of the disturbances which occurred there on Sunday, I I th June. The additional officers, who include members of the Special Patrol Group, will remain there as long as the current situation requires. Meanwhile, the Commissioner is considering whether it will be possible to increase the number of police posted to the area in the longer term, while taking into account the needs of other parts of London.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, to some extent, that reply is reassuring? But has the Secretary of State discussed these matters personally with the Commissioner and has he indicated to him that, if it can be done without detrimental effect to police manpower elsewhere in London, the level of staffing in the Tower Hamlets area should be permanently increased? In respect of the particular incident where 200 youths rampaged down Brick Lane causing damage and destruction to property and intimidation of the residents, is the noble Lord aware that there were many police on the spot in the morning but that by two o'clock in the afternoon they had practically all vanished? Will the Home Office institute an inquiry into why police were not on hand when this mob violence occurred?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHNo, my Lords; I do not think that there is any question of having any form of inquiry. The Commissioner—it goes without saying—has the total confidence of both my right honourable friend the Home Secretary and myself. We discuss 811 matters of community relations generally with him on a regular basis, together with other policing problems in London. I do not think that there is a need for any form of inquiry. In this matter, as on others, the Metropolitan Police do a magnificent job for the people of London.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he has considered the other part of the Question which was raised by the noble Lord, in relation to taking such steps as are possible to stop a vicious and terrible slur upon the people of this country? Those of us who were present at the time when Moseley's Party was carrying out similar action in the East End of London, in my own constituency at that time, are greatly disturbed at the resemblance to what is happening down there now, against another set of inhabitants, and the developments that can take place. May I ask the Minister, also, whether he would be good enough to see what kind of publicity can be given, so that many of those who have joined the National Front, and who have no idea of their true intent, may realise that they belong to one of the most vicious Nazi institutions that exists?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy, Lords, I would in no way disagree with what my friend has said regarding the National Front. I join with him in saying that these were deplorable incidents. The answer I have given indicates that the Metropolitan Police are taking this matter very seriously and are reinforcing the police division in the area concerned. These steps should reassure all the people of Tower Hamlets that this matter is being taken, both by the Commissioner and all others concerned, with a high degree of seriousness.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, while everybody agrees with his remarks about the splendid job that the Metropolitan Police do in general, Mr. Dan Jones of the Tower Hamlets Trades Council has documented no fewer than 600 attacks on members of the Bengali community over the past two years which have not been solved, and no one has been brought to trial for these offences? Therefore the Bengali community in this area feels anxious. In 812 reinforcing the police in the Tower Hamlets area, will the noble Lord pay particular regard to the necessity of police/ Bengali relations being improved by the allocation of additional officers to this task?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, as I have already indicated, additional officers are being made available in the area concerned. There has undoubtedly been a substantial degree of violence in this area; but it has not all been directed at the Bengali community. There simply is a general problem of violence as such. All I would say to the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, is that the Commissioner, with the resources available to him, is doing everything possible to maintain law and order in the streets of Tower Hamlets and he will continue to do so. I hope that the statement that i have made this afternoon will reassure the House that this matter is being taken very seriously by the Metropolitan Police.
May I say something which does not arise directly from the Question put to me by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury? I think that it would be generally appreciated by the House if this afternoon one made some comment on the fact that one member—possibly two members—of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has been murdered in conditions of great savagery in Northern Ireland, and to express on behalf of the whole House our deep condolences to the families of the officers concerned and express admiration for the job which the Royal Ulster Constabulary does every day of the week.
§ Several noble Lords: Hear, hear!
Lord JANNERMy Lords, does my noble friend realise that the necessity of having such large forces of police involved is in itself something which should be taken into consideration in dealing with this particular problem? Other methods—after all, there are a number of statutes—could be examined to see whether these demonstrations and vicious attacks could be stopped. and so save a considerable amount of time, money and expense, in addition to stopping what is one of the most vicious movements in this country.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I entirely agree with my noble 813 friend. The movement concerned is a very vicious one, and I entirely share his views about it. What I have said to the House is that the Commissioner has reinforced the division concerned by a number of officers, including members of the Special Patrol Group. I think that will be a reassurance to the House and to residents of Tower Hamlets that this matter is being taken with an appropriate degree of seriousness.