§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to the police to impose crowd control and safety measures on the organisers of popular events which are held on private land; and what plans he has to strengthen them. [108112]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThere are no specific police powers relating to crowd control or safety for events on private land. For an organised entertainment event where there are no trespassers, the local authority for the area would be the lead body to ensure public safety, and fire and police services would also be consulted with regard to both safety and emergency planning. Once this consultation has been completed, the local authority can issue a Public Entertainments Licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
There are no plans to amend the legislation.
44W
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take measures to enable the police to remove more promptly motor vehicles which have been abandoned on(a) public and (b) private land; and if he will make a statement. [108113]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for chief officers of police. The legislative provisions governing the removal of vehicles are contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Disposal of Vehicle Regulations 1986. Under the 1986 Regulations, the police have powers to remove vehicles abandoned without lawful authority which are left in breach of local traffic regulation orders or left where they are causing an obstruction or likely to cause a danger. In these circumstances, removal would be arranged as soon as possible.
Where vehicles are not illegally parked but otherwise appear to be abandoned, the responsibility for removing and ultimately disposing of them rests with local authorities. The police do not have the power to remove abandoned vehicles from private land.