HC Deb 15 January 1987 vol 108 cc250-2W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to provide police on duty at Wapping with riot equipment; and if the equipment available includes CS gas, smoke and plastic bullets.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Police officers at Wapping have been provided with the usual protective equipment. Plastic baton rounds and CS have not been made available.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the number of injuries sustained by the Metropolitan police during the News International dispute; and if he will list those injured on a monthly basis and the injuries sustained.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Commissioner informs me that up to 9 January, 410 police officers had sustained injuries. The injuries ranged from concussion and cuts and bruises to burns and broken limbs. More detailed information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will provide details on the total number of police deployed at the News International plant since the dispute began;

(2) if he will list the number of police officers provided by the Metropolitan and City police forces to police the News International plant at Wapping on a daily basis for each month since February 1986 to date.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The number of Metropolitan police officers deployed at the News International plant varies from day to day and hour to hour depending on the public order situation. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that up to and including 31 December 1986 nearly 1.2 million police man hours had been spent by the Metropolitan police in connection with the dispute. Although City of London officers police marches by print workers which pass through the city they are not regularly deployed outside the News International plant itself.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the number of injuries by civilians during the News International dispute; and if he will list those injured on a monthly basis and the injuries sustained.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that this information is not available. Such injuries are not necessarily reported to the police.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will outline the mutual aid arrangements established across the Metropolitan police district to ensure that the operational requirements for police cover have been met during the News International dispute at Wapping;

(2) if he will list the Metropolitan police divisions which have sent officers to Wapping; and what were the numbers of officers sent on each occasion.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that officers from all eight areas in the Metropolitan police district have been deployed in connection with policing the News International dispute. The numbers provided by a particular area on a particular occasion depend on the requirement at Wapping, and other policing requirements elsewhere in the Metropolitan police district. Rest day working and other overtime are options available to senior officers to ensure that operational requirements are met. Records of the number of officers provided by each area or division are not kept centrally, and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of the mutual aid arrangements made with forces outside London to ensure the operational requirements of policing the News International plant at Wapping have been met.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he has not requested any such aid.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the daily cost of policing the Wapping News International dispute in overtime payments; and if he will provide a total cost of overtime necessitated by the dispute.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the daily cost in overtime payments of policing the News International dispute is not available. The total cost of police overtime up to the end of November is estimated at about £4.6 million.