§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning the action taken by the Metropolitan Police during the incident in Notting Hill on 9th May in which members and officials of the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council were held as prisoners for 14 hours by persons demonstrating against the council's housing policies.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Commissioner of the Metropolis tells me that a public meeting attended by councillors and local 121W government officials began in All Saints Church Hall at 8 p.m. on 8th May. The meeting continued through the night and in the morning the police were told that some of those present were being prevented from leaving. The police therefore requested the audience to leave, which they did at once, at 10.30 a.m.
The police have discussed with members of the local authority ways in which a repetition of this incident can be avoided.