§ Captain Ramsayasked the Home Secretary what instructions have been issued 1298W to superintendents of police in London regarding the granting of permission to the Fascist or Communist parties to organise processions after dusk; and whether exactly similar treatment is being accorded to both sides?
§ Sir S. HoareThe Commissioner of Police has issued instructions to District Officers that in every case where there is reason to believe that a projected procession may lead to disorder the matter should be specially reported to him so that he may consider whether it is desirable to impose any conditions in respect of the procession under Section 3 (1) of the Public Order Act, 1936. In deciding whether any such conditions should be imposed in the case of any particular procession, the Commissioner—as required by the Act—has regard to the circumstances of that procession. He has no power to lay down rules for a uniform practice in this matter. In accordance with the provisions of the Act he must exercise his discretion on each occasion in accordance with the particular circumstances. In so doing he is, of course, indifferent to the political opinions of the organisers of the procession, and concerned only with the requirements of public order.
§ Captain Ramsayasked the Home Secretary whether he has had any reports during the last six months of violent attempts by either Communists or Fascists to interfere with each other's processions; and, if so, who were the offenders in each case?
§ Sir S. HoareDuring the last six months there has been only one occasion on which any violent attempt has been made to interfere with an organised Communist or Fascist procession in the Metropolitan Police District. That was the occasion on which proceedings were taken against a considerable number of persons for offences arising out of their opposition to the march of the British Union of Fascists from Millbank to Bermondsey on 3rd October last.