11.1'. 0115 53" No. 728 (Unrulcrl) METROPOLITAN POLICE Reference (co. . . I to papefs Wembley Police. STATION . OWN Dwnl. No.m.nmunhnuunnm. 21 June 1977 Re. Trade Dispute Disorder/arrestsl__ GRUNWICKS PROCESSING 1. I mmuh?; A8 21st June 1977 a? CHAPTER ROAD At 6.40 am, 50 demonstrators, including 6 official pickets, were present. The pickets were in the gateway. First police were deployed in a light cordon but by 6.50 am a total of 50 demonstrators were present and these numbers were increasing rapidly. Police deployment was commensurate. At 7.10 am there were 500 present, 300 on the right footway, 100 on the left footway and the remainder on the south footway controlled by police cordons. The official pickets were in the gateway, however no APEX representatives were seen at this stage. At 7.35 am 600 were present, apportioned as above. At 7.45 amj?r Flatt-Mills and Mr Ian Mikardo were present talking to official pickets and newsmen. By 8.05 am 800 were present - they were or erly and under police cordons. The employees coach arrived and entered to shouting and token pressure on cordons. This was the easiest entry the obach has made at this location since the dispute began and had all the appearance of having been stage-managed as a peaceful reception of+the coach for the benefit of the Members of Parliament who were now present. These were:? I, ?If Mr Cannavan Mr Flannegy Wise Mr Richardson and others not identified at thisihime. During the entry of the coach, a white middle-aged male, holding a placard in the picket line at the gate, ran forward up the offside of the_poach to the front, was brushed by the coach and fell to the ground. No serious injury waspsustained. This incident was witnessed by Commander whose impression is that at the time the man came into contact with the coach, he was on Grunwicks' private premises. Subsequently, Mr Martin Flannery MP, madb an allegation of dangerous driving against the This was reported and is being investigated. At 8.15 am, certain MP5 wishing to see-l (who declined to see them until 10.30 am) withdrew their request to see him. At 8.45 am, the employees coach departed from the premises. This involved the reversing of the coach into the public carriageway, a difficult manouevre. The first attempt was not successful due to the line of turn but was successful at the second attempt. Neither attempts were completed easily as both were complicated by extreme pressure on the cordons to prevent the coach's exit. On the second occasion, sat down in the carriageway at the rear of the coach and was warned by Chief Inspecto to quit. She persisted and was arrested for obstruction. During this attempt to block the coach exit, Continued a o. 729 (Unrulvd) coach exit/ it was noticed thut many of the MPs had left the scene. At about 9.00 am there was a noticeable movement from COOper Road into Chapter Road and when the coach had exited shortly before 9.0C am, a group of demonstrators ran along after it, followed by some police officers. The group from COOper Road met those going along Chapter Road, saw and some other prisoners in a police coach, and many banged and kicked the police coaches. They were joined by about 50 others from the demonstration and the melee commenced in which it Was evident that certain sections of the demonstrators were attacking individual police officers. Arrests were made, and notably who attempted to interfere with the arrest of another person, was hersel arrested. Police restored order, getting all those present onto the footways, and the coaches departed with their prisoners. No damage was caused at all, but three police officers were in ured. Whilst this fracas was going on, Chief Inspector ppealed to* to call on the crowd so that together, using loud hailers, they cou quickly calm the situation. refused to assist. At 9.24 am there were 300 demonstrators with official pickets in the gateway who were generally very belligerent and were provoking police. They were contained and no resort to arrest was made. By 9.40 am, many of those were moving from Chapter Road to COOper Road apparently in anticipation of the arrival of the employees' coach at that destination. At 9.59 am a private car entered Grunwicks, Chapter Road, without trouble. At 10.02 am, a coach was in the Chapter Road entrance but only 150 were present and token probing of police cordons contained. At 10.45 am only 45 demonstrators and pickets were present and the coach departed from the Chapter Road entrance with no trouble. During the period up to 12.30 pm, the numbers present fluctuated when at this time 10 persons, including official pickets in the gateWay, were present. There was minimal police presence. At 2.00 pm there were 25 present who were all quiet and again a minimal policepresence was maintained. For the rest of the afternoon, numbers of demonstrators fluctuated between 12 and 30. At 4.55 pm, there were 30 demonstrators to the left and right of the gateway, with 4 official pickets (all Asian) in the gateway itself. At this time. police officers were deployed as a loose cordon near the gateway. A blue company van arrived seeking to gain entry to the factory. It was immediately surrounded by several of the rowdier demonstrators who fiercely abused the driver who was not at all disposed to speak with them. The small cordon of police officers quickly restored order and the van entered. The majority present was at this time comprised of young white male youths. At 5.00 pm, the above company van left the premises, again to foul abuse, followed by a blue car who received similar cat?calling but no physical interference. At about 6.00 in numbers decreased to 12, including official pickets, - COOPER ROAD At 6.30 am two demonstrators with a banner 'Exeter labour Party' were present, and there was minimal police presence. At 6.50 am, 25 demonstrators and 3 official pickets were present, amongst whom was identified. At 7.30 am there were 100 plus official pickets, comprising of Asian women who were all quiet. At 7.55 am more local pickets arriVed, but no APEX organiser was seen. At 8.00 am, 200 demonstrators present but all was quiet. At 8.20 am, Ian Kikardo, Jo Richardson, Haurjin Colquhoun and one other Continued All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side if necessary. No. 729 (Unruled) one other/ present were being demonstrators, of whom only 50 remained. It was all I an- strengthen the law.) photographed talking to quiet. At 9.00 am official pickets took up position in front of the gates with the demonstrators on the right of the gate under a light police cordon. an APEX official who probably arrived with the MP3, informed Chief Superintendent that no APEX organiser would be present at Cooper Road for the rest of the morning. 1 At 9.45 am, demonstrators increased to 250, obviously in anticipation of the arrival of-the staff coach.' police were deployed, The mood was quiet. At 10.0 am, a private car entered the factory ga es without trouble. At 10.10. am, the same car left carrying passengers, to a very noisy reception but no disorder. and Mr John Gorst MP, were seen inside the gates. At 10.20 am the crowd reduced to 15 demonstrators. Asian female pickets were present at the gate, but no official APEX member was present. Up to 1.00 pm, the number present reduced to 6 pickets. This number fluctuated until 3.45 pm when, in fact, it built up to 20. Light policing arrangements were made throughout this period and eventually at about 4.00 pm only 6 pickets were left, all being Asian women. At 4.35 am, they too dena 1nd situation returned to normal COBBOLD ROAD An Asian's car was in pickets 1 Asian and 1 white. an obstructive position and was moved at the request of police. There were no pickets at the rear. At 7.15 am, 5 extra pickets appeared who were young white students and were orderly. There were still no pickets at the rear. Two private motor cars, registration marks and were checked with and the owner was found to be Fry?s Hire Ltd., of - At 8.00 am the pickets were now numbering 15. Employees arrive in the van to shouts of "Scab", other abuse and a display of strike posters, but there was no real disorder There were no pickets at the rear. At 8.30 am, 11 pickets were present inly Asian women. At 9.10 am a private motor car, registration mark with 3 white male student types on board, were lurking in the vicinit They were st0pped and questioned by police and were identified as 3 students from he Middlesex Polytechnic. AP organiser was on scene since 8.30 am. At 9.30 am the number of pickets remai as at 8.30 am. At 9.45 am, there were 21 pickets/ demonstrators and 3 pickets at the rear. Up to 12.50 pm the situation was quiet with the pickets/ demonstrators fluctuating, but never more than 20. At this time, 3 young males arrived, student types, which coincided with the arrival owned by the Initial Towel Supply Company. They chased after the vehicle right up to the front door of Grunwicks' premises and appeared to be arguing with the driver. A member of Grunwicks' management, At 6.30 am there were 2 Continued All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order. Continue on other side if necessary. No. 729 (Unruled) management/ came out and asked them to leave as they were on private property, which they did. They were advised on the law of trespass by Superintendent which was not resented. One of these men identified himself as a member of the postal workers union. For the remained of the afternoon numbers fluctuated between 6 and 15 at the front of the building and 2 and 4 at the rear. Police numbers were decreased gradually commensurate with the number of pickets present. both locations. At 5.05 pm. there "as a ?138 . Continued Continue on other aide if necessary. All minutes to be numbered in consecutive order.