From cc
F8 Division
Ext 2367
7 March 1990

 

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE COMMUNITY CHARGE

1. You asked for a note following reports about
demonstrations over the last few days at council meetings
where the level of community charge was being set. Some of the
demonstrations yesterday evening resulted in scenes of public
disorder which have been widely reported. Other
demonstrations have been orderly. Details of the

demonstrations of which we are aware are annexed to this note.

2. Typically the demonstrations where there has been some
disorder have involved groups of people entering the council
chamber or council premises to disrupt the council meeting,
with larger groups of demonstrators outside. The police have

been called upon to restore order both inside and out.

3. Generally the number of arrests has been small at each
demonstration with few and only minor injuries to the police
and the public. Bristol was an exception last night with 21
arrests, mainly for minor public order offences. Four police

officers required hospital treatment.

4. Much of the media coverage has focussed on the alleged
involvement of far left groups particularly Militant
Tendency and the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in organising
demonstrations and fomenting disorder. We understand from the

police that there was evidence of Militant and Socialist

Workers Party involvement at Bristol and at a meeting at
Haringey the night before but there was no evidence of them
being involved in the demonstrations at Maidenhead, Reading,

Norwich or Bradford. 

5. Thus the involvement of Militant Tendency and other left
wing organisations is not unifbrm. From the reports we have
received there is no indication of national co?ordination of
the demonstrations. The left wing demonstrators seem likely
to be the most vociferous and active where they are present
but it is evident from the reports we have received that they
have been joined by other demonstrators wishing to show their

disapproval at the setting of the community charge.

PROSPECTS

6. Liverpool Council is meeting this afternoon to set their
budget. The police are expecting and prepared for a
demonstration. There is a possibility that disorder may
occur. A number of London boroughs are also meeting this
evening to set the community charge but no disorder is
expected. Uxbridge Council will be re?convening on Thursday
evening and Haringey Council will be re?convening on Friday to
set the community charge. Earlier meetings of these councils
had to be abandoned due to demonstrations and further attempts

at disruption are expected.

7. I understand that councils are required to set their
budgets by 11 March and thus by then will know what their
level of community charge will be, although in law apparently
the charge does not have to be set until 1 April. The spate
of demonstrations at council meetings setting the charge

should not therefore be long?lived.

8. We will keep you informed of developments.

ANNEX

INDEX

A1 Bristol

A2 Maidenhead

A3 Reading

A4 Weston-super?Mare

A5 Norwich

A6 Bradford

A7 Exeter

A8 Birmingham, Dover, Gillingham and Worcester

 



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