§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 12 June regarding the police raid on the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, how many of those taken to Kilburn police station were patrials and how many non-patrials whose immigration status was fully lawful; whether search warrants for the co-ordinated visits to Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May were obtained under the Immigration Act 1971 which restricts the police to searching for specific named persons, and, if not, under what other legislative powers they were obtained; whether prior notice of the co-ordinated visits to the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May was given to the commanders and community liaison officers of the divisions in which the operation took place; how many police officers and how many members of the immigration service took part in the co-ordinated visits to Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, and what were the ranks of the most senior police and immigration officers present; whether police dogs were present at the co-ordinated visits to the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, and if so why this was felt appropriate; and whether employees of Securicor Limited were involved in the co-ordinated visits to the 23W Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, and so, in what numbers and for what purpose.
§ Mr. RaisonThe information requested is as follows:
- (a) Of those people arrested and taken to Kilburn police station, five were patrials and six were non-patrials whose immigration status was in order.
- (b) Search warrants were applied for before the operation and were granted under the Immigration Act 1971.
- (c) Commanders and community liaison officers from the districts concerned were given prior notice of the proposed operation.
- (d) In the operation centred upon Kilburn police station, eight police officers, of whom the most senior held the rank of detective chief inspector, and 10 members of the immigration service, of whom the most senior held the rank of inspector, took part.
- (e) Two police dogs were present at the Bestway Cash and Carry warehouse to assist, if necessary, in searching the premises. In the event they were not required and did not enter the premises.
- (f) No employees of Securicor were involved in the co-ordinated visits to Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May.