§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the mechanism whereby military personnel are mobilised in aid of the police for exercises such as those at Heathrow and for other public order duties;
(2) to whom the police apply when seeking assistance from the military; and whether an application from a chief constable or Commissioner of Police is required to be considered by or supported by any independent individual or body prior to the request going forward.
§ Mr. Giles ShawA decision to request the deployment of military units to Heathrow is taken at a senior level in the Metropolitan police. The request is made to the Home Office where it is considered in consultation with other interested Government Departments. If no objections are raised, the police are given authority to proceed with the detailed arrangements and the Ministry of Defence authorise the deployment of the military units.
As to public order matters, the police have the primary responsibility for maintaining the peace. A chief officer of 319W police who required reinforcements in dealing with public disorder would seek them first from other chief officers. Under long-standing arrangements, the deployment of service men to assist the police, as a measure of last resort, would require the approval of Ministers of the Crown.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what section or department inside the Home Office is specifically responsible for military aid to the civil power; and how many people are employed on such work.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Home Office aspects of this subject are dealt with by the police department. No one is employed full time on it.