HC Deb 24 June 1968 vol 767 c23W
70. Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the arrest by Metropolitan Police officers of two members of the Russia trade mission on 15th May last.

Mr. Callaghan

On 15th May the Metropolitan Police arrested two men who were behaving in a suspicious manner, and who had been observed behaving similarly on previous occasions. One of the men resisted arrest, but the police used no more than reasonable force in apprehending him. After examination at a police station, and confirmation that they were members of the Soviet Trade Delegation, the men were released.

The police report left no doubt that these men had been engaging in activities outside the legitimate scope of the Soviet Trade Delegation, and in the light of all the relevant circumstances I concluded that the most appropriate course was to curtail their stay in the United Kingdom. They accordingly left on 7th June.