§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Wiltshire on the policing of events at and around Stonehenge over the period of the summer solstice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the chief constable of Wiltshire that the police have made effective use of their powers under the Public Order Act 1986. There were two serious outbreaks of disorder, both at Stonehenge. On 17 June a group of people rammed the perimeter fence and their attempted occupation of the monument led to 32 arrests, mainly for public order offences. On the night of 20/21 June large groups of people again invaded the stones. There were attacks on the police which led to officers being deployed with protective equipment. Sixty-seven arrests were made and seven officers required hospital treatment. Those celebrating the solstice have now dispersed from the area and did so without further incident.