§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands police on the attack on a police station and subsequent incidents which took place in Thornhill Road, Birmingham, on 1 September; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mayhew:We understand from the chief constable that at approximately midday on 1 September a crowd of between 40 and 50 people gathered outside Thornhill Road police station in a demonstration about the arrest and subsequent remand proceedings in respect of a local person. The demonstrators left Thornhill Road at about 4 pm, moving to Soho Road, where they sat down and obstructed traffic. When the police removed them the demonstrators went to Grove Lane and again sat down in the road. some of the demonstrators there threw stones at the police as they were again removed, and two officers received minor injuries. Nine people were arrested for public order offences, of whom one subsequently pleaded guilty and was fined and the others are awaiting trial.