HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
POLICE AUTHORITY ITEM 5
15 SEPTEMBER 1992
PUBLIC ORDER 6 - 10 AUGUST 1992
REPORT OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE
1. Introduction
1.1 Over the period 6 - 10 August 1992, a number of events took
place in Hampshire which necessitated considerable Police
attention. This report summarises those events for the
information of members.
2. The Law
2.1 Sections 12, 14, and 39 of the Public Order Act, 1986 deal with
public processions, public assemblies and illegal trespass where
serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious
disruption to the life of the communities may occur.
2.2 The Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1982 deals
with the licensing of public entertainments and places a
statutory responsibility on the local authority for the
imposition of conditions relating to all safety and
environmental issues (including noise pollution to local
residents) before granting licences.
3. Background
3.1 During the Summer a number of large, illegal 'festivals' have
been held in various parts of the Country, notably in West
Mercia and Dyfed Powys in Wales. An attempt to hold such a
festival in the Andover area at Midsummer was abandoned.
3.2 Following the successful 'festivals' in Wales, the next
scheduled event, known as the Torpedo Town Festival was to be
held in the Hampshire area. In 1991 this event had been held on
Ministry of Defence land at Bramshott and some 10,000 people had
attended, causing serious disruption to the community.
3.3 In the weeks leading up to the 7 - 10 August, action taken, in
consultation with local authorities and landowners succeeded in
dissuading the travellers from holding a festival in the area.
4. Events of 7 - 10 August 1992
4.1 Since early 1992 a substantial gathering of travellers had
developed on land at Green Lane, Romsey. The ownership of this
land was uncertain and this prevented Police action under
Section 39 of the Public Order Act, 1986.
4.2 It was suspected that this site may have been the venue for a
festival; consequently the Police took action to prevent further
expansion of the settlement. A number of other potential sites
were monitored and action taken to protect them.
4.3 During the afternoon of Friday, 7 August 1992, large numbers of
travellers' vehicles were in the County apparently heading for
the Winchester/Romsey area. In the evening of that day a number
of travellers occupied land at Cuppernham Lane, Romsey. Later,
a large field at the village of Pitt, on the Winchester
outskirts, and land surrounding the County Council's incinerator
at Poles Lane, Otterbourne, were occupied.
4.4 Large numbers of vehicles congested the areas surrounding these
sites and a number of violent incidents involving the Police
occurred.
4.5 During the morning of Sunday 9 August 1992, the County Council's
incinerator buildings were entered and the administration
buildings were set alight. The blaze was extinguished but not
before the building was destroyed.
4.6 This event precipitated a large-scale Police operation,
involving some 200 officers from this and other Forces,
culminating in the relatively peaceful recovery of the sites by
the afternoon of 10 August 1992.
5. Costs
5.1 The additional cost to the Police of these operations was
estimated to be £320,000. The estimated cost of the fire damage
to the County Council's incinerator buildings is £133,000 with a
further £67,000 to repair damage resulting from vandalism.
6. Conclusion
6.1 These large gatherings are illegal and cause considerable
disturbance to local communities. Substantial Police resources
are necessary to minimise the disruption and to maintain public
order and to ensure compliance with the law. This was achieved
on this occasion but only after considerable effort and the
commitment of substantial resources.
RECOMMENDATION
1. That the report be noted.
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