HC Deb 14 April 1986 vol 95 cc233-4W
Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to (a) how many police officers were deployed at or near the News International plant at Wapping on the night of 6 April and (b) the cost of the police operations at Wapping so far.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I understand from the Commissioner that 1,870 officers were deployed at Wapping on the evening of 6 April. Information regarding the total cost of the police operation to date is not readily available.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers from Newham stations were on duty in connection with the News International dispute at Wapping on 29 and 30 March;

(2) how many police officers were on duty in Newham on the night of 29 March; and what is the normal night-time complement;

(3) how many police officers from Newham stations have been on duty at Wapping in connection with the News International dispute each week since the dispute began.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The numbers of officers stationed in the London borough of Newham who have been deployed at the News International plant at Wapping during the period of the current dispute are as follows. More recent figures are not yet available.

Week beginning Number of Newham officers deployed*
25 January 1986 208
1 February 1986 176
8 February 1986 192
15 February 1986 251
22 February 1986 211
1 March 1986 190
8 March 1986 230
15 March 1986 199
22 March 1986 219
29 March 1986 186
* Expressed as man days.

The numbers of officers from Newham deployed at the News International plant on 29 and 30 March were 34 and 32 respectively.

There were 43 officers on duty in Newham on the night of 29 March. The usual deployment is 48.