§ 123. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Lambeth Borough Council have deplored the fact that no apparent effort was made by the police to prevent street bonfires in Lambeth on 5th November last; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EdeI understand that the council themselves made special arrangements to deal with bonfires which might have caused damage to the road surface, and that no approach was made to the police. The police would, naturally, have dealt with any fires likely to cause damage or obstruct traffic which they encountered in the ordinary course of their duties, but in390W the present manpower situation they could not be expected to divert additional personnel to one particular borough for this purpose.