§ MR. MILVAIN (Durham)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the fact that batches of prisoners from the various boroughs and petty sessional divisions of the county of Durham are at intervals during each day marched handcuffed, and sometimes in chains, through the streets of the city of Durham, from the railway station to the county gaol, a distance of about a mile; and, if so, as the practice is a subject of annoyance to the inhabitants, he will take into his consideration the advisability of providing a police van for that purpose?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to say that I 1309 have received a Report from the Chief Constable of Durham, who informs me that on an average 20 prisoners are marched daily through the streets of Durham, not in chains, but frequently handcuffed. The Home Office is not responsible for the proper conduct of prisoners to gaol. This duty rests with the County Authorities. I have accordingly written to the Chairman of Quarter Sessions saying that, in my opinion, it is desirable that a police van should be supplied, in order to put an end to the present practice.