HC Deb 23 February 1994 vol 238 cc267-8W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to date of police operations in connection with protests in Wanstead against the construction of the M11 link road.

Mr. Charles Wardle

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 22 February,Official Report, column 154.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the police tactics decided on for the final removal of protestors occupying houses in Wanstead in opposition to the M11 link road; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the level of seniority within the Metropolitan police service at which the decisions were taken as to the number of officers to be deployed, and the tactics to be used, in the final removal of protestors from houses in Wanstead occupied as a protest against the construction of the M11 link road.

Mr. Charles Wardle

I understand from the Commissioner that his officers were present at the request of the high sheriff of Greater London who was seeking to enforce an order of the High Court obtained by the Department of Transport for possession of the site. The role of the police was to prevent any breach of the peace.

The Commissioner informs me that his officers sought, for reasons of safety and to enable the order to be enforced, to establish cordons around the area and to direct traffic away from it. Police officers then cleared the road in front of the houses to enable the high sheriff's officers to take possession of them. Once this had been achieved, most of the police officers withdrew, although a few remained to prevent the site from being reoccupied. Decisions on deployment and tactics were taken by an officer of the rank of commander.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the police operation against the M11 link with protestors at Wanstead on 16 February cost; and what are the total costs to date of policing activities in relation to the M11 link road.

Mr Charles Wardle

I understand from the Commissioner that the additional costs of the police operation on 16 February are estimated to be more than £200,000. The total manpower costs since September of security and policing for the M11 link road through Wanstead are £470,075. Information on the cost of support services and other resources involved is not available.