HC Deb 21 April 1980 vol 983 cc9-11W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were convicted of theft in the St. Paul's area of Bristol in 1979; what were the sentences or fines each received; and how many of those convicted were from the Indian Sub-continent or the West Indies;

(2) how many people were convicted of assaults on police officers in the St. Paul's area of Bristol in 1979; what were the sentences or fines each received; and how many of those convicted were from the Indian Subcontinent or the West Indies.

Mr. Whitelaw

The information requested is not available. For court proceedings, details collected centrally identify only the petty sessional division or Crown court centre in which the proceedings took place. The Bristol petty sessional division deals with cases from all four of the police divisions of the Bristol city area; and the St. Paul's area forms only part of one of these divisions. Information is not available on the ethnic origin of offenders.

Mr Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether firearms were issued to police officers at any time between the beginning and the end of the riot in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April;

(2) what was the cost to public funds of drafting in police officers from other areas to cope with the riot in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April;

(3) how many police officers were brought in to help cope with the riot in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April; and from what areas these extra officers came;

(4) how many police dogs were used to help quell the riot in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April;

(5) how many police vehicles were damaged or destroyed during the riot in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April; what types of vehicle were damaged or destroyed; and what was the cost to public funds of the purchase of each vehicle damaged or destroyed;

(6) how many persons were arrested during the riot in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April for (a) the looting of shop premises, (b) breaking into shop premises and (c) assaulting police officers in the course of their duty;

(7) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset on how many times the Black and White cafe had been raided prior to the raid leading to the riot on 2 April; for what reason each previous raid was carried out; how many persons were arrested, if any, on each occasion; and with what they were charged.

Mr. Whitelaw

I have now received a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset on the disturbances in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 2 April. When I have had time to consider this I shall make a further statement.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to meet the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality to discuss the visit of the chairman to the St. Paul's area of Bristol following the riot.

Mr. Raison

We met the chairman and the deputy chairman on 17 April to discuss their visit to Bristol.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality has sent him any report or findings he may have made following his visit to the scene of the St. Paul's riots in Bristol on 3 April.

Mr. Raison

We received an oral report from Mr. Lane last week.