§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what authority the Metropolitan Police conduct road blocks, obstructing the highway and causing inconvenience to road users, of the kind held in Great Western Road, London W.10, in the early hours of 8th April 1976; and how often such road blocks are carried out.
§ Dr. SummerskillI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the22W officers concerned in the police action on 8th April to which my hon. Friend refers were exercising their power to stop vehicles under Section 159 of the Road Traffic Act 1972. I understand that police operations of this kind are not uncommon in the Metropolitan Police District, but I regret that I can give no statistics.