§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made against officers on duty at the News International plant at Wapping.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThree up to and including 18 February.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Society of Graphical and Allied Trades and National Graphical Association members have been arrested at the News International plant at Wapping; what charges have been brought against those arrested; how many have been convicted; and in how many cases charges have not been brought or have been dropped.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that information on the trade union membership of those arrested or charged is not recorded.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if officers from forces outside the Metropolitan police district have been placed on standby for mutual aid duties in connection with the current trade dispute at the News International plant at Wapping.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNo.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked 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 what powers officers of the Metropolitan police have used to establish road blocks in approach roads in the Tower Hamlets police district and near to the News International plant in Wapping.
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Date Ch. Supt. Supt. Ch. Insp. Insp. P.S. P.C. 25 January 1986 1 — — 11 27 235 26 January 1986 1 — 2 11 21 197 27 January 1986 1 — 2 12 20 200 28 January 1986 1 1 2 12 22 205 29 January 1986 1 1 2 12 23 218 30 January 1986 1 1 2 12 24 227 31 January 1986 1 1 2 11 21 203 1 February 1986 1 1 3 16 30 292 2 February 1986 1 1 3 11 21 210 3 February 1986 1 1 4 12 22 213 4 February 1986 1 1 4 13 20 213 5 February 1986 1 1 2 14 25 245 6 February 1986 1 1 3 14 23 221 7 February 1986 1 1 3 13 23 216 8 February 1986 1 1 3 23 41 402 9 February 1986 1 1 2 13 23 222 10 February 1986 1 1 2 12 21 206 11 February 1986 1 1 2 11 21 210 12 February 1986 1 1 3 9 21 289 13 February 1986 1 1 3 15 34 498 14 February 1986 1 1 2 12 26 255 15 February 1986 3 1 4 41 102 878 16 February 1986 1 1 4 11 22 213
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that roads in the vicinity of the News International plant have been closed on two occasions in accordance with directions which he has issued under section 52 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made by the Metropolitan police in connection with the current trade dispute at the News International plant at Wapping.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw194 up to and including 18 February.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many officers from the metropolitan police have been deployed in each day at the News International plant in Wapping; what are the ranks of each officer; which police district the officers have been drawn from; and what is the average daily cost of the present police operation;
(2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to what district support have been deployed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in the present police operation at the News International plant in Wapping; and how many units have been deployed, on which occasions, and from which police districts the units were drawn.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe numbers and ranks of officers up to the rank of chief superintendent who were deployed at the News International plant at Wapping on each day during the period 25 January to 16 February are as follows. A deputy assistant commissioner, assisted by a commander, is in overall charge of the police operation.
The district support units and other officers deployed at various times at the News International plant have been drawn from districts throughout the Metropolitan police district.
The other information sought either is not readily available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has made available to officers on duty at the News International plant in Wapping any of the following riot equipment: plastic bullets, riot shields, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-style riot helmets, shin guards, overalls and long truncheons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe usual protective equipment has been available. Plastic baton rounds have not been made available. Long truncheons are carried only by mounted officers, as standard issue.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked 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 what powers were used by officers of the Metropolitan police to stop two coachloads of Society of Graphical and Allied Trades and Nation Graphical Association members traveling to Southampton; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North East (Mr. Leighton) 18 February, at column 125. No officers from the Metropolitan police were involved in this incident.