§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received from chief constables as to approximately how often throughout the present miners' dispute the police have sought to limit the number of people picketing at any particular entry to a place of work.
§ Mr. HurdThe number of sites which have been picketed each week-day since the dispute began is such that we would not expect chief officers of police to report the detail of the policing at every one. But the reports which my right hon. and learned Friend receives from chief officers about their operation as a whole indicate that steps to limit the size of assemblies, in order to prevent or help deal with breaches of the peace or the commission of offences, are taken daily.
§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to codify police powers under common law to limit the size of a picket line; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe power to limit the number of people at a particular place is one of the range of powers at common law available to the police to prevent or deal with breaches of the peace and obstruction. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering whether these powers should be codified in his review of the Public Order Act 1936 and related legislation.