Special Branch New Scotland Yard, Broadway, LONDON, SW1H 0BG F4 Division Home Office Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT 5th June 1984 Dear XXX 1. You may wish to see a copy of the assessment dealing with the various CND and allied protests which have been timed to coincide with the Economic Summit and which will culminate in major activity on Saturday 9th June 1984. YoursFrom: XXX, F4 Division, 22 May 1984 ER CC CND DEMONSTRATION DURING THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT 9 JUNE We have been discussing with the police the emerging prospects for a major CND demonstration on 9 June, to coincide with the Economic Summit at Lancaster House. I thought I should at this stage report the position to you, not because there is in my view any action which the Home Secretary could take but because the scale of the demonstration, and the public order and security implications of it, will no doubt be a matter of concern to the Prime Minister. 2. CND's line has been that they would hold no major demonstration in London during 1984. But when London CND announced a major demonstration directed at the Summit (and more particularly President Reagan) national CND appear to have decided to take it over and ensure that it was stewarded effectively rather than risk it getting out of hand. They appear to be co-operating fully with the police. 3. The background to the demonstration is that apart from the conference at Lancaster House, the guests will need to leave Lancaster House and travel to the Guild Hall for lunch and will then need to return to the Connaught Rooms for a press conference. In addition, that morning is the occasion of the final dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour at which the Duke of Edinburgh will take the salute. 4. CND's objective is to rally to Hyde Park and to march to Trafalgar Square. They would, of course, have liked to march past Lancaster House. CND have apparently suggested that there might be 80,000 on the march: the police would not be surprised if the numbers exceeded 100,000. This is a body of a size which cannot be physically prevented from moving if it wished to do so, an the police have proceeded through- out on the basis that some demonstration on these lines should be allowed to go ahead, but that it should be steered by negotiation alongER an acceptable route. The police negotiations are now focussing, and are virtually settled, upon the following route: Hyde Park (move off no earlier than 12.30), Serpentine Road, Albert Memorial, Knightsbridge, Wilton Crescent, Belgrave Square, Upper Belgrave Street, Hobart Place, Lower Grosvenor Place, Bressenden Place, Victoria Street, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square. If because of bad weather the Trooping rehearsal is postponed to the afternoon, the last stage of the march would go along the Embankment to avoid Whitehall. 5. A march on this scale will of course attract major news coverage which may well distract from the Summit. There would probably be, on this route, some limited attempts by some of the marchers to break away and get near to Lancaster House either when the march is at the rear of Buckingham Palace or when it arrives at Trafalgar Square. There may also be break away attempts to get to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square. The police believe that such attempts would be small enough to be contained and prevented: if the march were to be that large the overwhelming majority of the participants would be reasonable people who would co-operate with the police on the day if given a reasonable outlet for their feelings. 6. I have already suggested that, as a practical matter, to prevent the march from ever leaving Hyde Park by force would in the police view be impossible and one can see why. So far as the legal position is con- cerned, the police are at present proceeding by way of negotiation but under section 3(3) of the Public Order Act 1936 if the Commissioner were "of the opinion that, by reason of particular circumstances existing in his area or any part thereof, the powers [to direct the route] will not be sufficient to enable him to prevent serious public disorder being occasioned by the holding of a public procession he may with the consent of the Secretary of State make an order prohibiting [for up to 3 months] the holding of all public processions . ." Despite the obvious security concern over the Lancaster House conference, I think the police would be in difficulty in arguing that there is a threat of "serious public disorder". Furthermore, it is 2clear from the terms of section 3(3), as XXX confirms, that the banning powers could only arise if the powers to direct the route proved insufficient. In view of the organisers' co-operation with the police, that condition is not satisfied. 7. The route is determined to some extent by the destination. There is special legislation applying to the use of Trafalgar Square for demonstrations, for which the consent of the Secretary of State for the Environment is required. I understand that the Secretary of State gave his consent on 17 May for a rally in Trafalgar Square on the afternoon of 9 June for up to 30,000 people (any excess to be funnelled off in accordance with normal police contingency plans down the Strand and Northumberland Avenue). Unfortunately, the Home Office were not consulted before this decision was taken - Department of Environment apparently approach us for advice when there is something obviously controversial about the application, and the relevance of the date was presumably missed on this occasion. 8. In the circumstances, unwelcome though this demonstration may be, there do not appear to be any grounds or powers to prohibit it: police negotiations with the organisers are virtually complete, and give the police what they need in terms of public order and security, while conceding to the marchers a route sufficiently close to their objective to win their consent and co-operation. F4 Division 22 May 1984E.R. cc CND DEMONSTRATION DURING THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT - 9 JUNE The Home Secretary has seen your note of 22 May and is content with the line that is being taken. Private Office Principal Private Secretary 23.5.8410 DOWNING STREET From the Private Secretary CABINET OFFICE London Economic Summit : Security The Prime Minister has seen your minute of 22 May about the demonstration which the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will be mounting on Saturday 9 June. Mrs. Thatcher agrees that we have to accept the judgement of the police on the handling of this demonstration in the light of arrange- ments for the Economic Summit. I am copying this minute to XXX and XXX 29 May 1984