Public Meetings and Demonstrations

HC Deb 18 April 1994 vol 241 c356W

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bans on public meetings and demonstrations were issued in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Charles Wardle

There is no power to ban public meetings. The power under the Public Order Acts of 1936 and 1986 to prohibit public processions was not used in 1979, and was used five times in 1985 and twice in 1993.