HC Deb 18 April 1983 vol 41 cc8-9W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were arrested in Whitehall on Saturday 19 March and charged with obstruction, during a protest demonstration connected with experiments on animals; why those who were held at Rochester Row police station for many hours were photographed against their will; when these photographs will be returned as promised; and in how many cases, other than political demonstrations, persons arrested for obstruction have been photographed.

Mr. Mayhew

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a total of 58 persons were arrested on this occasion of whom 30 were charged with obstruction; that because of the number of persons detained photographs were taken in order to avoid confusion about their identity; that it would have been open to those persons to have refused to be photographed; that the photographs which were taken of these persons have now been destroyed; and that no information is collected centrally about the number of cases in which persons arrested for obstruction have been photographed.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the persons arrested on Saturday 19 March following a protest demonstration connected with experiments on animals and kept in Rochester Row police station were prevented for a long period of time from making a telephone call and making contact with their legal advisers; and in how many cases, and for what reasons, a person was taken from Rochester Row to Paddington police station and kept in single cells from 8 pm on Saturday until 8.30 am the following Monday morning.

Mr. Mayhew

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that because of the number of persons detained on this occasion it was not practicable to allow them to make a telephone call and contact their legal advisers immediately. In order to avoid overcrowding in the cells at Rochester Row police station a number of persons were transferred to nearby police stations, including six to Paddington police station; all six were detained at Paddington police station from 8 pm on Saturday until 8.30 am the following Monday morning.

The cells at Paddington police station are designed to accommodate one person and it is normal practice that only one person should be accommodated in them at any one time whenever practicable.