§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis with regard to incidents of public disorder which occurred in Tottenham, London during the afternoon and evening of Tuesday 2 November; and if he will make a statement on the nature of these disturbances.
§ Mr. MayhewWe understand from the Commissioner that at 12.40 pm on 2 November two beer barrels were dropped from a first-floor walkway on to a police car at the Broadwater Farm Estate, Tottenham. Considerable damage was caused to the car, but the occupants were not injured. At 3 pm two officers were called to a flat on the estate to investigate a racial daubing. As they were conducting their investigation, one of the officers was282W struck on the head by a youth with a billiard cue and a hostile crowd gathered. The officers were given security in the flat, from where they were safely escorted by colleagues, although in the course of that a police van was damaged. Additional officers were deployed on the estate during the evening and, whilst a crowd gathered, there were no further incidents. The damage and the assault on 2 November were among the most serious of a number of incidents which have taken place on the estate since July. The police have responded by continuing both to dedicate additional officers to duties there and by initiatives to improve relations with the residents; the area has recently been quiet.