• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I am actually very concerned that this was a case of inappropriate policing. I think that, far from seeing a strategic mastermind at work behind the protest, we actually saw those protestors walk into a police trap like kittens to a bowl of milk. The fact is we are possibly now, as a Police Authority, going to see a huge, a huge number of court cases against the Metropolitan Police that could cost us a huge amount of money. Do you really not think this is an issue that we as a Police Authority should be very concerned about?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I understand the wider framework. This question refers specifically to the May Day demonstrations and the information collected in that aspect. It wasn't a wide-ranging question; it was a very specific question. Am I to understand from the reply just given that that information will be kept for seven years and will people who are concerned that information about their personal details is kept in that way, will they be able to check with the MPS what information is held and question its accuracy if necessary?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I am already on record as sharing in the general appreciation of the effective policing operation on 1 May, but do you agree that there is always a potential conflict between the requirements for effective policing and the protection of civil liberties, which he has just said he endorses? Do you share my concern that filming and collecting other personal information, whilst it may be judged necessary for effective policing, does raise important civil liberties issues? And that what happens to all that information collected in respect of people not charged, let alone convicted, is an important issue, which the...

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Thank you. You mentioned that 465 had retired and say that you'll be talking to the Home Secretary. Can we ask that that discussion is held quickly and very energetically. For instance, to allow officers who've completed their 30 years' service to continue on a part-time basis.

• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Perhaps would you also like to comment on press reports that the director of the civil rights group Liberty, on behalf of 150 people who were held penned up in Oxford Street is possibly going to demand a judicial review of police tactics used on the day and could possibly sue for false imprisonment and breaches of the Human Rights Act. I personally know somebody who was penned up in Oxford Street on that day, [laughter] yes, who was there protesting totally peaceably, was not dressed up as a Womble or anything else, not armed, had nothing about her person...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Would you agree that there was a cost to this very successful, and to most of us, I think most Londoners, happily successful police operation both in financial terms and in the fact, of course, that again those very outer London boroughs and other boroughs had to be denuded for a period of time of officers to make the presence available that was necessary to deal with this? Have we perhaps come to a stage where we should not expect Londoners to have to pay the level of price that they are having to both in financial terms and in...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I am sure that had the demonstrators been allowed to rampage through London as last year doing damage and frightening innocent people, our colleagues the Liberal Democrats would have been the first to come here and complain about it. Personally I would like to congratulate the Commissioner on the way that he handled this demonstration and I am sure that most of us in this room who are not at the extreme ends of the table would share that viewpoint. To come to the question though, not so long ago you were involved with other people in parliament who voted...

• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

As I understand it very few people were actually allowed to leave. The poor chap who was apparently trying to change a CD was allowed to leave and one or two other people were allowed to leave, but basically people who were involved in peaceful lawful protest, who were unarmed, were kept there for seven hours which I believe is a clear breach of the Human Rights Act and I think the Metropolitan Police will have a lot to answer for and I feel that for you to pass it straight back is a total cop out. What do you...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Given that you are not sure about the extent of this threat, do you believe that this is money well spent?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Obviously the Home Office when they made this request felt that another fuel protest was very likely. Do you share their view that this is a major threat?