HC Deb 13 July 1981 vol 8 cc278-9W
Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislation to give the police fuller powers to deal with riots, similar to those which they possessed before the abolition of the Riot Act 1714.

Mr. Whitelaw

I am considering this suggestion in the course of my review of the Public Order Act 1936 and related legislation, and in the light of the extensive powers at common law available to the police to deal with unlawful assemblies.