§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Leicestershire as to the additional costs of policing the city of Leicester during the nights of 9 and 10 October and if he will make a statement on the disturbances which took place in Leicester on those dates.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw[pursuant to his reply, 29 October 1985]: I understand from the chief constable of Leicestershire that on the evening of 9 October there was a football match between Leicester City and Derby. County. At about 7 pm a number of incidents occurred in the city centre involving football supporters. At about 7.30 pm, because of the number of people still in the city centre, the kick-off time was delayed by 5 minutes and the match subsequently started at 7.50 pm. Just before the end of the match a group of about. 50 youths congregated in a small recreation ground in Walnut street which is close to the Leicester City ground. On attempting to disperse these youths, police officers came under attack when missiles were thrown at them. The youths were however dispersed into a nearby estate. Similar attacks on police occurred in nearby areas.
Shortly afterwards police received reports of disorders in the new St. Martins shopping precinct, and the London road area, with windows being smashed and property 557W removed from window displays. Police officers were deployed into the area and came under attack by approximately 50 youths, as a result of which 2 vehicles were overturned and set on fire. A number of petrol bombs were thrown at police in a number of areas of the St. Peters estate. The youths were dispersed through the estate and the situation contained.
As a result of these incidents 35 people were arrested for various public order offences. Three police officers and one civilian received injuries.
Some 200 police officers were deployed during the football match, but because of the subsequent disorders this was increased to about 500, some of whom were deployed from adjoining forces.
On the following day there were further incidents of disorder, though on a smaller scale. At about 9 pm a petrol bomb was thrown at a general store on an estate three miles from the city centre. At 11 pm in the Highfields area about 40 youths began to engage in stone throwing, breaking some windows. Four petrol bombs were thrown and an office building was set on fire and badly damaged. One car was also burnt out. About 200 police officers were deployed and by 1 am the area was quiet. One policeman was slightly injured. Sixteen arrests were made in connection with the disorders on 10 October.
Information about the additional costs of the policing operation is not yet available.