§ Mr. Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct an urgent review of the powers available to the police to prevent assemblies such as that at Castlemorton common taking place where they are a threat to public order, safety and health and consider bringing forward measures, similar to those affecting marches, to enable chief constables to ban such events if unauthorised.
§ Mr. Charles WardleWe have called for a full report from the chief constable of West Mercia on the policing of the event at Castlemorton. Senior officials will very shortly be considering with chief constables the powers available to the police service, the intelligence and liaison arrangements between forces and their tactics for handling such large gatherings.