§ COLONEL MAKINSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he is prepared, by legislation or otherwise, to strengthen the hands of the Metropolitan Police in preventing the obstruction of public thoroughfares 302 by persons who frequent them for immoral purposes?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT,in reply, said, that he was in communication with the Commissioners of Police and the Police Magistrates on this very important subject. There were some difficulties in the present state of the law, which, as interpreted by some of the magistrates, required that some individual should complain that he himself was annoyed in the matter, and that general annoyance of the public would not be sufficient. He was making inquiries how far this view was maintained, and if it were maintained it was desirable that the law should be altered. He might mention that a Bill, founded upon the Report of the House of Lords Committee with reference to the protection of women, would shortly be introduced into the House of Lords, which would, to a certain extent, deal with the question, and if necessary a clause would be inserted to carry out the views of the hon. and gallant Member.