§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of police officers deployed on public order duties outside the News International plant at Wapping on 24 January 1987; and what were the ranks from commander downwards of those employed, the length of the tours of duty of police officers on that date, and the number of divisions within the Metropolitan district from which officers were drawn.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 1,018 officers were deployed. Their ranks were as follows:
Number Superintendent 1 Chief Inspector 2 Inspector 42 Sergeant 102 Constable 871 A commander and a chief superintendent were initially in charge of police operations; a deputy assistant commissioner subsequently took charge. The average tour of duty was 8.8 hours. No central record was kept of the number of divisions from which officers were drawn.