HC Deb 10 March 1978 vol 945 cc793-5W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which he or his predecessors have consented to bans on public processions under Section 3(2) of the Public Order Act 1936 by (a) class of public processions banned, (b) local authority area, (c) geographical area covered by the ban, and (d) length of ban.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Orders were under Section 3(2) of the Public Order Act 1936: in September 1964 prohibiting for two weeks all public processions, other than religious processions, in the city of Salford; in November 1974 prohibiting for one month in the cities of Birmingham and Coventry and the Borough of Solihull any public procession in connection with the death of James McDade; and in September 1977 prohibiting for almost six weeks all public processions in the Borough of Tameside.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which he or his predecessors have consented to bans on public processions under Section 3(3) of the Public Order Act 1936 by (a) class of public processions banned, (b) geographical area covered by the ban, and (c) length of ban.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Between June 1937 and the outbreak of the Second World War, 10 successive orders were made under Section 3(3) of the Public Order Act 1936 prohibiting all public processions of a political character in the East End of London. The first two orders were of six weeks' duration, the remainder were for three months.

An order was made in April 1948 prohibiting all public processions of a political character for three months in the East End and areas of Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill and Hackney. Between May 1948 and February 1949 three successive orders, each of three months' duration, were made prohibiting political processions throughout the Metropolitan Police District. Seven orders, in the same terms and for the same duration, were made in March 1949, October 1949 and between February 1950 and February 1951.

Orders were made in September 1960 prohibiting all public processions other than of a solely religious character for three months in St. Pancras; in September 1961 prohibiting any public procession organised by the "Committee of 100" for 24 hours in central London; in August 1962 prohibiting all political processions for 48 hours in the Metropolitan Police District; and in July 1963 prohibiting all political processions for 48 hours in the East End of London and neighbouring boroughs.

Orders of two months' duration are currently in force prohibiting all public processions, other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held, within the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London.