§ Mr. Wickendenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Surrey on the total cost of policing incurred during the M25 (Leatherhead interchange) public inquiry held between May 1978 and May 1979 in Great Bookham and Leatherhead; whether he is satisfied that such duties are a proper use of limited police resources; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. BrittanI understand from the chief constable of Surrey that his officers attended this inquiry on 94 occasions between 26 September 1978 and 6 June 1979, at an estimated cost of £9,374.
The presence of the police at planning enquiries is a matter for the chief officer of police for the force concerned, in the light of his general responsibility to prevent or deal with breaches of the peace.