SPECIAL BRANCH Special Report. News International Dispute 12th day of May 1986 1. On Saturday 10th May 1986 I was present in the Wapping area of east London during the latest in the series of demonstrations by print workers and their supporters against the News International publishing corporation and its new technology production plant in Pennington Street, E1. The centrepiece of this demonstration was a march to Wapping from Tower Hill by Sogat '82, the National Graphical Association, the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers and the National Union of Journalists. 2. This event came just one week after the biggest and bloodiest protest yet outside the plant, and urgent talks had been held on the morning of the 10th between senior uniformed officers and print union leaders in a bid to defuse the situation and establish a better mutual understanding. These talks concluded with a widely publicised agreement that the two sides should meet regelarly and that a 'hot-line' be established between their respective centres of  communication. It was later learned that the agreement also included an undertaking being given by police that union stewards would be given prior notice of what route would be used by News International distribution vehicles when leaving the plant - a decision which was apparently intended to reflect the view of senior officers that extremist elements, not print workers, were responsible for the violence which has marred previous demonstrations. 3. A total of 2,300 persons took part in the evening's protests, all but 100 of whom participated in the march from Tower Hill. Although disorder was on a much lower level than on the previous week, 46 arrests were made (as a result of which 41 persons were charged) and 18 police officers were injured (3 of whom received hospital treatment). Distribution of News International publications was not, however, unduly disrupted; only two pickets were seen outside the company's old Gray's Inn Road and Bouverie Street sites. 4. Demonstrators intending to take part in the march began assembling at Tower Hill at 7.30pm and by the time they moved off, at 9.05pm, they numbered about 2,200. The over- whelming majority of persons present appeared to be printworhers, although the usual contingents of supporters of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), Workers Revolutionary Party/Young Socialists and Labour Party Young Socialists were also in evidence, as were a small number or anarchists.5. The march to Wapping was a relatively subdued affair, the only incident of note being an attempt by a small pocket of demonstrators to belabour a passing car which they believed to be driven by a worker at the News International plant. The 100-strong static picket line at the junction of The Highway with Virginia Street, which had been the main seat of disorder during the previous week's protests, was passed without incident and the majority of the marchers {including the SWP contingent) continued east to the junction with Glamis Road. It was noticeable that a higher number of demonstrators than usual detached themselves from the rear of the main column and remained at the extreme western end of The Highway (at the junctions with Thomas More Street and Dock Street). The significance of this was later to become clear when it was learned that police had already made it known to print union stewards that distribution vehicles would leave via those roads. 6. The next two hours were largely uneventful, the only kind of disorder coming at Glamis Road, when SWP members, having attempted to stage a mass 'sit down', met with angry opposition from printworkers. At ll.45pm, however, a column of mounted officers emerged from Wapping Lane and moved quickly to Thomas More Street, where they formed a line across The Highway in readiness for the departure of a convoy of distribution vehicles. In response to this manoeuvre the 400-or-so demonstrators present surged forward and a small number of thunderflashes and smoke bombs were thrown. Although the use of these items caused some inevitable alarm, the only impact they made on the lines of police was to singe three inches from the tail of one of the horses. However (perhaps appropriately on Cup Final day) two demonstrators scored spectaular 'own goals' and had to be removed to hospital to receive treatment for burns. 7. During the following three hours the scene was much the same, with demonstrators (the SWP being particularly active) making sporadic attacks upon police lines, throwing an assortment of missiles at the mounted officers and at one stage attempting to block The Highway by means of a coach. These efforts were, however; wholly ineffective and a total of 38 lorries and 110 vans were able to leave the plant without particular difficulty. 8. Following the violent 'national' demonstration at Wapping on 3rd May it was the view of those XXX XXX. The agreement which has been struck between police and  union leaders has, however, introduced a new element into this affair. Despite considerable evidence to the contrary, there has been a growing belief on the part of senior uniformed officers that violence on the picket lines has been instigatedby extremist elements unconnected with the unions and that the cooperation of print workers can be elicited in attempting to preserve order. Whether this approach will be successful remains to be seen, but it is clear that, as in the miner's campaign, police have now been firmly drawn into a situation in which their actions and public statements will be subject to as much public scrutiny as those of the principal participants in the dispute. One particular incident last  Saturday which perhaps best illustrates why some doubts are harboured regarding this agreement was that immediately after the first thunder flashes and smoke bombs had been thrown,  a member of Sogat's executive committee telephoned the XXX XXX. 9. Deteils of those arrested are currently being collated and will be submitted in due course. Inspector Submitted: Chief InspectorAPPENDIX The following were the legends of banners displayed during a march by printworkers and their supporters on 10.5.1986 from Tower Hill to News International's Wapping plant. PRINT UNIONS 'NGA London District Branch' 'The Graphical Chapel' 'Sun & News of the World NGA' 'London Standard NGA' 'Sogat '82' WH Smith Peckham Chapel 'News of the World Sogat' 'Sogat '82 Deptford Chapel' 'Times Night Publishing Chapel' OTHERS 'TUC' 'Labour Party Young Socialists' 'Westminster & District Trades Council' 'National Communist Party' 'Workers Revolutionary Party' 'Young Socialists National Committee' 'International Communist Party' 'Artists unit - Artists Union' 'Gays Lesbians Support the Printworkers' 'Tower Hamlets Socialist Workers Party' 'Support Printworkere Expel the EETPU' 'Workers united will never be defeated'