HC Deb 18 July 1977 vol 935 cc367-8W
Sir T. Kitson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police have been deployed at Grunwick since the dispute began up to the present date; how many have been injured to date; and how many hours of police time have been taken.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to Questions by the hon. Member for Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken) and others on 14th July.—[Vol. 935, c. 759–761.] The number of police man-hours involved could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many days members of the police Special Patrol Group have been employed in the vicinity of the Grunwick Ltd. premises during the current industrial dispute at that company;

(2) how many members of the police Special Patrol Group were deployed in the vicinity of the premises of Grunwick Limited on Monday 11th July;

(3) who is responsible for authorising the deployment of police Special Patrol Groups in industrial dispute situations in the London Metropolitan Area and in the provinces, respectively;

(4) on what date members of the police Special Patrol Group were first deployed in the vicinity of the premises of Grunwick Limited during the current industrial dispute at that company.

(5) how many of the total number of police officers injured so far in the course of duty in the vicinity of the premises of Grunwick Limited are members of the police Special Patrol Group.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The responsibility for the deployment of police officers is entirely a matter for the chief officer of police concerned. The Special Patrol Group consists of ordinary uniformed officers who, although their basic role is to act as a mobile reserve supplementing the strength of divisional police when required, receive no special training or treatment. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that officers from the Group were first deployed at Grunwick on 13th June; between 13th June and 13th July, some members of the Group have been deployed on 22 days; 16 of them have been injured. Of the 3,706 police officers on duty on 11th July. 167 were members of the Special Patrol Group.

Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date the first police officer was injured in the course of duty in the vicinity of the premises of Grunwick Ltd. during the current industrial dispute at that organisation;

(2) on what date police officers were first deployed in the vicinity of the premises of Grunwick Limited in connection with the current industrial dispute at that company and in what number.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that six police officers were deployed at Grunwick on 23rd August 1976. A police officer was first injured on 13th June 1977.