HC Deb 12 April 1988 vol 131 c4W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask 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 how many arrests there have been arising from incidents at Arsenal football ground since January 1987.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There have been 424 such arrests since January 1987.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask 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 the total number of police deployed per match since September 1987 in the vicinity of Arsenal football ground.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The number of police officers on duty at football matches depends on the teams involved, and the police assessment of the likelihood of disorder. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Arsenal has played 21 matches at Highbury since September 1987, and that the average number of police officers deployed per match was 332.