§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a departmental circular to all police authorities requiring them to follow the procedures recommended by the Devlin Report on Identification Evidence.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead).—[Vol. 910, c.66–67.]
§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the report of the Committee on Identification Evidence, he will now set up a committee to advise him on the exercise of his prerogative powers, and his powers under the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, in cases in which sentences are being served following convictions based on evidence which would not have been deemed sufficient if the recommendations of the report had been put into effect.
§ Mrs. Millie Millerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent report of Lord Devlin on the inadvisability of basing verdicts entirely on identification parade evidence, he will institute an immediate inquiry into those cases where prisoners continue to protest their innocence whilst serving substantial sentences, and whose alibis were overridden by the courts because of the importance placed on identity parades.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI do not think it would be helpful or appropriate to set up an advisory committee for this purpose. As I indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 27th April—384W [Vol. 910, c. 66–67]—I am consulting those with in interest in identification evidence before making proposals for changes in identification procedures. When considering any representations made to me in individual cases I shall, of course, take into account the views expressed by Lord Devlin's Committee.