§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask for a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset constabulary on the events outside Bristol council house on 6 March.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset that in the early afternoon of 6362W March demonstrators began to gather outside the council house in Bristol where the city council was meeting to consider the level of community charge. By 3.30 pm the crowd had grown to around 600 people. The crowd included some supporters of Militant and the Anti-Poll Tax Federation. At 3.45 pm a number of demonstrators attempted to force their way into the council house. They were prevented from doing so by the police.
Further sporadic outbreaks of disorder occurred throughout the afternoon and early evening as elements of the crowd tried unsuccessfully to break the police lines. Missiles were thrown from the crowd and officers were kicked and punched. The demonstrators began to disperse at around 7.30 pm when the council meeting was concluded. A section of the crowd then proceeded to march into the city centre causing serious traffic congestion. A number of cars were damaged and three shops had their windows broken. A number of demonstrators returned to the council house and held a short meeting outside. These demonstrators had dispersed by 9.15 pm. Twenty-one people were arrested, mainly for public order offences. Five police officers were injured, three requiring hospital treatment.