§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legal power, and by whose authority, the police were acting when they closed St. James's square and refused access to those who work in shops and offices in the area, and others, during the recent siege of the Libyan embassy.
§ Mr. HurdPolice constables have a duty to protect life and property, and in the exercise of that duty may make any reasonable request of any person. The legality of any action a constable may take should a person refuse to carry out the constable's request would be a matter for the courts to decide in the light of all the circumstances of a particular case. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who 689W was operationally responsible for the police actions in St. James's square, tells me that during the operation arrangements were made for people who needed to visit premises in the square urgently to do so under police escort.