Disturbances (London) Debate

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Department: Home Office

Disturbances (London)

David Anderson Excerpts
Monday 28th March 2011

(13 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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As I said in response to the question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis), the way in which the main march was policed was a good example of, and a tribute to, the British model of policing. It was important that the police were able to do that in co-ordination with the organisers of the march, who had been in discussions with them about it in advance of the event.

David Anderson Portrait Mr David Anderson (Blaydon) (Lab)
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Will the Home Secretary enter into discussions with her colleagues about the way the events on Saturday were reported? Any impressionable young person watching the news on Saturday evening or through the night, or reading the newspapers yesterday, would believe that the only way to make their voice heard is by being involved in such actions, which none of us in this House condones. We need more balance from the British media so that that message can get through.

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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Yes, of course the media have a responsibility in how they report such incidents. I find it deeply distressing that too many people are willing to stand up and condemn the police, when they should be condemning those who perpetrated the acts of violence.