HC Deb 28 April 1980 vol 983 cc366-7W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avonmouth, Somerset concerning a demonstration in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on the evening of 23 April which got out of control and needed police carrying riot shields to restore order; and if he will make a statement on the number of police employed.

Mr. Whitelaw

The chief constable tells me that some of the participants in a march organised by the Anti-Nazi League broke away from the agreed route and entered the St. Paul's area of Bristol. A brief episode of stone-throwing was quickly ended by firm police action involving about 20 officers using riot shields. Two youths were arrested.