MINISTRY (DP-DEFENCE
MAIN BUILDING. WHITEHALL, LONDON, S.W.I

TELEPHONE <m-sao 7022

 

14th October 1968nunDEMONSTRATIONS

As-you are aware there has been some uneasiness
in my Department about the possibility, however remote,
that troops might have been called upon at the last
moment to help cope with the demonstration planned for
27th October. However, I now understand that the
Commissioner of Police has come to the firm conclusion
that he could see no possible circumstances arising
during the demonstration which would lead him to call
for help from the Services. This is, of course, a
welcome conclusion as far as we are concerned.

2. However, the incident has prompted me to look
closely at the assistance which we could give in
circumstances such as this, and I thought I should let
you know what has emerged from this examination. .Most
importantly, it is quite clear that it would be extremely
undesirable for troops ever to be used in an active role
once a demonstration had got out of hand. Quite apart
from the constitutional problems, the troops are not
trained in riot control in this country; nor would I,

for various reasons, wish to initiate such traininv.

It follOWS'from this that troops should only be used

if they are used at all, in a purely passive role in
order to prevent a situation from getting out of control.
Examples of the sort cf thing which unarmed troops might
bezble to do are internal protection and security of
Government buildings, or the passive blocking off of an
area or street using normal Police techniques of the less
active kind. Even if we were to plan to use troops in
this passive role, they would have to be given some
training in the techniques to be used. And although 
this training would not be long or difficult there
-would of course be the danger of a leak to the Press
of the fact that we were carrying out such training.
Once the men were trained, a number could be made
available at comparatively short notice in any times 0
difficulty. 

H)

There

The Rt. Hon. James Callaghan, MP.

 

A

5. There may also be other areas where we could
give help to the Police; I am thinking of such things
as the provision of helicopters, ambulances or MT to

supplement Police and other civilian resources. But
if such assistance were needed we would have to have
at least 2 - 3 days notice.

4. I thought that it would be wise for me to draw

your attention to these facts about our ability to
assist the Rlice, if our help was ever needed; and

to impress on you that it would be impossible for us
to respond at the last minute if the Services had not
been given at least a modicum of training in the roles
which they might be called upon to fulfil.

1