HL Deb 15 May 2000 vol 613 cc3-6WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish in the Official Report a detailed timetable of events during the demonstrations in Central London on 1 May, showing the timing of each significant event, or act of criminal damage against property, and the timing of decisions made, and actions taken, by the police authorities during the day. [HL2291]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The timing of decisions and actions taken by the police are operational matters for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and are not matters in which Ministers would be involved. I have enclosed a police chronology of both the main and smaller scale events which occurred on 1 May, but should emphasise that the times shown are approximate only.

Chronology of Events—1 May
Time Location Occurrence
10.30 Parliament Square, SW1 First groups of demonstrators start to arrive for "guerilla gardening".
10.30 Hyde Park, SW1 Around 400 cyclists and CHARM (Cyclists Have A Right to Move) supporters on foot gather as part of advertised "critical mass".
11.00 Hyde Park towards Parliament Square, SW1 CHARM move off via Hyde Park Corner. Grosvenor Place and Birdcage Walk, to join "guerilla gardening" action in Parliament Square.
Approximately 200 cyclists and 200 on foot. In possession of large portable canvas sheets to screen carriage of "guerilla gardening" implements.
11.00 Bond Street Underground Station W1 Approximately 80 protesters gather to demonstrate in sympathy with persons prosecuted under Italian antiterrorist laws. About 30 of this group move onto nearby Benetton shop for peaceful picket. Finishing at 1pm. Protesters move to Parliament Square.
11.30 Parliament Square, SW1 Main mass of protesters gather for "guerilla gardening" action. Numbers rise to approximately 2,500. Turf is dug up from the centre of Square and relaid on roadway. Banners erected.
12.25 Parliament Square, SW1 Police and public vehicles attacked by protesters.
13.45 Whitehall, SW1 Led by samba band, approximately 1,000 people move into Whitehall from Parliament Square and demonstrate outside Downing Street. Some missiles thrown at police guarding the barriers to the premises.
14.10 Whitehall SW1 Branch of McDonalds attacked by crowd of up to 80. Police Forward Intelligence Teams came under attack and withdrew, suffering some injuries. Serious damage done to premises.
15.20 Northumberland Avenue, SW1 Police come under missile attack from approximately 1,000 protesters in Trafalgar Square. Further police serials move to contain crowds in the Square where they remain held.
16.45 Parliament Square, SW1 towards Millbank, Lambeth Bridge and Kennington Park Approximately 500 protesters break through police lines and cross river at Lambeth Bridge, arming themselves with building materials as they went. Group attack BP Garage on route. Some vehicles damaged.

Chronology of Events—1 May
Time Location Occurrence
18.00 Kennington Park, SE11 Large group of protesters congregate in park. Missiles attacks made on police serials bordering the park, sustained for about 30 minutes.
18.20 Trafalgar Square, W1 Controlled dispersal of crowd commenced by police. Elements leave via Northumberland Avenue and make their way to The Strand.
18.40 The Strand, W1 Approximately 150 protesters attack Rymans and Carphone Warehouse, as well as a

Chronology of Events—May
Time Location Occurrence
number of vehicles, causing criminal damage. Police move in to contain. This group grows to about 400.
19.00 Charing Cross Police Station Police vehicles attacked by crowds from The Strand.
20.00 The Strand, W1 Police disperse crowd towards Waterloo Bridge. Some cars damaged on the Bridge.
20.30 Kennington Park Last elements of crowd dispersed.
20.58 Bayliss Road, SE1 Crowd from Waterloo Bridge held at bay by police and dispersed.