87 No. 728 (U METROPOLITAN Pence Reference .. tom?me (Divn. .. STATION ?g . Registry Folio No. ..19 1. 9.0er ..refars Re 01.): grammes, smears. 31%; Arm . or 1mm HOUSE or LEADING To DISORDER AND were THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1288 A.C.T.O. (through Commander To 20) 1A. 118/11 etc. Introduction 1. Do 2. wonms'runx, KENNINGTON. Houses of Parliament. monstrations lyniversity of London union (NUS) march This articular march . Form 3175 was demonstrators was set at 1000 plus. meeting with this organiser and those of the marches set out below was cordial. organisations initial intention was to march I ST a wo1 to VINCENT SQUARE, consultation with Police and the various other the march should finish at Geraldine Mary being a more suitable location for the It was apparent that the this event was to listed members of the NUS from was not Special Universities in possession Branch but swelled in and at its peak numbers I would assembly point, along its route All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side if neon?cu"- 3. 14. No. 729 (Unruled) whilst it complied with assessment of the event The organisation gave Just six days notice. Section 11, Public Order Act 1986, was totally underestimated. London Collegg of grinting March which, the organisers Notification (Form 3175) was received from the organiser NR c/o . LONDON COLLEGE OF PRINTING, ELEPHANT mm GASTIE, SE1 (Telephone Rapport with Police was acceptable. It was the intention of th organiser to hold a totally independent function. A compromise was reached between' the various leaders of the marches to rally at the Park in KENNINGTON. The organisational assessments in this case were overestimated, the march materialising some 800 to 1,000 students. However, this march also increased in numbers as it progressed. National union of Students Ermeh {Horticultural Hall) Organised by rm 0/0 RATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS, NELSON Humans HOUSE, so . N7 (Telephone 272 8900). This event the Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square, It was the intention that the meeting be addressed by a number of speakers of note, including NEIL KINNOOK 14.1%, MR JACK STRAW and MR TONY BANKS. A march did assemble at this location point in Kennington. Some 1100 students left and proceeded to the rally the meeting place and were joined by'a further contingent at VABXHALL GROSS, increasing numbers to approximately 1600 plus. Demonstrators The number of demonstrators highlighted at Paras 2 to included at least 2000 Socialist Worker Party, Socialist Worker Student Society and 'Blaok' Anarchist Members. significant number of students that were displaced across the Borough of Westminster (South) who did not join any of the marches. These included both late arrivals and others who appeared to have an independent intention in their manner of protest. A.conservative estimate of the ?total number of students present in the vicinity and on the marches would be in excess of 20,000. I Marches/Rally Assembly and Early Progress Assembly of all three marches took place simultaneously at the sites mentioned above. Shortly after 10.00 am students assembled at those locations. The mood at all three sites was good. Liason with the stewards was acceptable. Numbers of stewards at MABET STREET was adequate to cater with the large assembly. All were clearly visible, dressed in tabards. The assembly at Malet Street accelerated in numbers at a rapid rate between 10.30 am and midday. A significant number of A further 600 Many more arrived occupied the entire All minutes to be numbered in consecutive ordet. Continua on othr side if 080053873!- 9. 10. 3 No. 729 (Unruled) A considerable portion of the assembly in Malet Street were members of The Socialist worker Party from various parts of the country including Hull, washington, Edinburgh, warwick, City of London Polytechnic, Bradford, to mention but a few. Members of various affiliated locations of the Socialist Terkers Student Society (SWSS) were present in some numbers, in addition to pockets of Green Peace (London Area) the City of London Anti Apartheid Group (gyms) and 'Black' Anarchists. These groups totalled in excess of 2000.2 noticeable that when the march set off 1,000 members had congregi-ed together in the first 2,000 marchers. The remainder which included Green Peace and the LSE contingent of the SWP had placed themselves in a like formation at the centre of the march. The anarchist group infiltrated various. university groups throughout the length of the march. When close to Police Observation Points the anarchists quickly lowered their black flags so as not to be easily recognised. This particular organisation circulated throughout the march as did the more active members. Their tactics from the outset was clear to infiltrate, persuade and later lead the more moderate factions away from the march. Portable telephones were prominent, regular cells appeared to be made and it is suspected that this method of communication was part of the ploy. The march set off at 12.16 pm at a good pace, taking exactly half an hour . to pass by a fixed point. The count taken at Museum Street attained 10,700. Large numbers were seen to join the march in Russell Square beyond the point of the count. This included at least 5 coach loads. After the march had left Malet Street many latecomers were still arriving. At 12.50 pm in excess of 500 were reported arriving on foot at that location these included a large contingent from Stoke on Trent. The NUS still had stewards at Melet Street to cope with these additional numbers. The majority of these were to join the march. It is also noteworthy that London university premises in Gordon Street, wo1 was open for refreshment and rest for the long distance travellers. This march continued to collect demonstrators along the North side of The Thames and I would estimate at its peak contained up to 17,000 participants. By 12.38 pm I was in receipt of confirmed information which had emanated from within the march that at the completion of the route a new march would make its way to the Houses of Parliament. At 12.Sh pm 50 members of the SWP broke away from the main rally and heralded later but more significant break away demonstrations which were to take place at YORK WAY, SE1. The events that took place subsequently are set out chronologically under the heading 'Discrder and Arrest'. The assembly at the London College of Printing mustered between 800 and 1,000 students. in early request from these marchers to change their route and march to Malet Street was denied owing to that request being previously un-notified to Police and secondly to prevent greater depletion of my already stretched resources. The marchers were therefore coerced to remain on the agreed route which was to terminate at the rally point. All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side if necessary. 31(5! 13. 'the march at Vauxhall cross. j.23 pm -14- No. 729? (Unruled) At 12.26 pm a march numbering 1,100 under the command of 'Bronae 2* left the Horticultural Hall to march via the route set out in the Operation Order to Kennington. As the march set off loud hailer broadcasts were made by the stewards for the demonstrators to ?Be noisy and angry". At 12.31; pm 200 students separate, from this march were sighted in Parliament Square displaying banners and chanting. This group were quickly ushered onto Westminster Bridge. At 12.147 pm the first 'sit down' took place on the South side of Lambeth Bridge. The ?sit down' occurred within the march under the control of 'Bronze 2' who reacted quickly and encouraged them to march towards their destination. 'This march swelled in numbers when a large group joined The march arrived at the parkat 1.10 pm' and was clear of the roadway by 1.30 pm. Disorder and Arrest This section of the report sets out in chronological order those events which resulted in breakaway subversive actions, large assemblies at the South side of Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge, the former location resulting in disorder and arrests. This section commences at 1.00 pm. 1.03 pm A report from the Palace of Westminster stated 14 students were using wirecutters? at the gate of Victoria Tower. Police responded quickly. Subsequent examination revealed no damage had been caused. . . - . 'I?he N.U.S. (Malet Street) approached the south side of Waterloo Waterloo Bridge. As it did so a 1,000 strong contingent of the S.W.P. at the {front of the march made a deliberate right turn into York Way off the agreed route. With sheer weight of numbers they overwhelmed the police cordon situated there and they then ran down York Road towards Westminster Bridge taking several thousand of the other marchers 'with them. 1,25 Pm News of this move was apparently quickly passed to the demonstrators on the march from the College of Printing, (by telephone?) which caused large numberspn that march to hurriedly make their way to Westminster Bridge instead of the meeting place in the park. Reserve Serials including those of the TSG were despatched to the South side of Westminster Bridge. At this time only 3,000 persons from all the marches had entered the Park. That figure appeared to remain stable throughout the rally. - 500 demonstrators sat down on Westminster Bridge whilst further demonstrators ran towards Lambeth Bridge. I, therefore, ensured both bridges were closed to prevent them crossing to the North side. Pockets of demonstrators were sighted on the North side of the river. 1400 were in Millbank making their way towards Iambeth Palace. By this time a large crowd 11,,000 strong had stormed the South side of Westminster Bridge. Mounted Branch moved to the North side of the bridge as a tactical deployment. TSG carriers were used to block the South side of the bridge. NUS stewards made several loud hailer requests to the demonstrators at Westminster Bridge to return to the march and rally to no avail. Further numbers moved along the Embankment from Westminster spilling onto the South side Numbers were approaclmately 300 and they were contained. -: 1.32 pm 1-35 pm All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side if necessary. 1.37 pm 1.38 pm 1.h0 pm 1.h2 pm 1.145 pm pm 1.51 pm 1.58 pm 1059 Pm 2.00 pm No. 729 (Unruled) Kenningmon Road junction of Woodley Road a confrontation'broke between two factions within the marohnwhilst in the park 30 activists were trying to entice members of the rally to march on Parliament. - 500 students were trying to make their way along:Victoria Street towards Great Smith Street. These were accompanied by TSG. Tension at the South side of Westminster Bridge rose considerably, Police were under attack from missiles and their lines were being pushed back. A mounted Serial was deployed to hold the ground and support the cordon. A group of 60 demonstrators with banners were making their?wmm- along Herseferry Road towards Lambeth Bridge whilst a further 150 students were in Millbank. By this time I had called for additional serials by calling on divisions and training units from the neighbouring areas. A group of 300 students were trying to encourage those in the park to march on Westminster Bridge whilst a group of 70 were on Victoria Embankment towards Cannon Row Police Station. A further 500 were in Horseferry Road. It was clear that the tactics were to infiltrate Police lines from as many sides as possible at the same time. Mobile serials were employed to cut them off'wherever possible. Urgent assistance was required at the South side of Westminster Bridge. The first arrests were being*made. Injuries were sustained. Additional serials were moved to the location. The numbers had increased that the assembly now encroached onto the roundabout at the South side of the Bridge. The walkways both to the East and West of the Bridge were densely populated with demonstrators. Demonstrators climbed onto the large Lion statue outside County Hall. Prom this point organisers were using'loud hailers and had control over the demonstrators clearly visible. At the head of this assembly were Green Peace, SWP, SWSS and the Anarchist Group. ?Frequently surges upon the Police lines came from a position where the black flags were most prominent, supported by the LSE (SWP). Bronze 1 reported at this time he was unable to hold his lines. Mounted moved in supporting that line which held. Public addresses were made constantly both by Police and NUS stewards but to no avail. Further injuries were sustained both to Police and demonstrators. Demonstrators were pulled exhausted from the front owing to the surge of demonstrators upon Police lines. Efforts continued to be made to subdue the crowd but every time peaceful suggestions were broadcast over the loud hailers the demonstrators noise volume increased and drowned them out. I moved Thames Division to the Bridge for safety reasons should any of the demonstrators drop into The Thames. Continual pressure upon the Police lines which included missile throwing were made upon this cordon. Sightings of demonstrators ,elsewhere included 100 at St James Par . Two to Three thousand marchers were coerced from Westminster Bridge by Police and taken in a controlled manner towards . Kennington Road. This subtraction of numbers still left in excess of 3,000 at Westminster Bridge. A further thousand demonstrators were sighted in St Georges Road towards Lambeth Bridge whilst serials were reporting breakaway marchers in the Lambeth Road. A further 300 with banners were making their way along Victoria Street towards Parliament Square. All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side if necessary. 14. 15. 16. No. 729 (Unrulet COMPLAINTS Chief Inspector Area Complaints, was appointed Complaints Officer for the event and reported that two complaints had been received to date. . CONCLUSION members of the N.U.S. Executive and all Senior Stewards. Whilst at tha- nesting copies of leaflets on stewarding and the Sessional Order wer? distributed to those present . My officers were thank for their inpu1 and applauded at the end of the meeting. accurate by the N.U.S. with police on Tuesday afternoon, 22nd November 1988. that, as the march progressed, the Left Wing element, were intent on marching to Westminster Bridge police. It was quite obvioug namely, S.W.P. and and there confront It has already been stated that my officers held the south side of Westminster Bridge for a considerable time. During that period, It would appear that to the south side of Throughout the event N.U.S. antagonists to desist. stewards constantly tried to persuade the and being. subjected to missiles and assault. Those condone were only maintained with the assistance of Mounted serials. It was apparent that the demonstrators remained intent in attaining their to reach the north side of the bridge. The solution was to was done with the maximum effect and the minimum force resulting in very few casualties. A total of 69 persons were arrested throughout the day. Reported injuries both to police, prisons and demonstrators are currently being collated and will be .submitted with the final report. Denlogle nt The three marches were each under the corrmand of a Bronze Sector chn'nander. Additionally, the vicinity of Palace of Westminster was under the comnand of a Sector Camender. The resources available to me for this operation were fully utilised including any reserve serials that I had. It was therefore necessary for me to call upon further resources in the surrounding areas including additional Mounted. The greater majority of these additional All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side If necessary. Sched?ule of police employed: DAC 1 Commander 1 Chief Superintendents 4 Superintendents 4 Chief Inspectors 15 Inspectors 63 P83 151 PC8 1261 No. of arrests 69 arrests with 50 charged as Sec 3 Public Order Act 1986 Sec 4 Public Order Act 1986 Sec 5 Public Order Act 1986 Assault on Police Obstructing police Highway Observation Theft (Police Uniform) Cruelty to Animals follows:- 19 10