To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to review the procedures for co-operation and sharing of information between separate police constabularies in England and Wales in relation to the problems caused by new age travellers.

The policing of any event is an operational matter for the police, but my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State will very shortly be meeting with chief constables to consider the intelligence and liaison arrangements between police forces for handling new age travelers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism exists for co-operation on areas of common concern between different police constabularies in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Police forces co-operate in many ways, formal and informal, over matters of common concern. In the case of public order difficulties, by virtue of section 14 of the Police Act 1964, chief constables can draw on the assistance of mutual aid from neighbouring forces.