§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on how many officers were deployed on the evening of 13 February at the News International plant at Wapping; at what estimated cost; how many arrests have taken place since the beginning of the print dispute; and with what offences those arrested have been charged.
§ Mr. Giles ShawUp to 17 February, 194 people had been arrested in connection with this dispute. The charges include offences of criminal damage, being in possession of an offensive weapon, unlawful wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer, threatening 125W behaviour, obstructing the highway, and being drunk and disorderly. 289 officers were deployed on the evening of 13 February. I regret that information about the cost of the police operation that night is not readily available.