§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the following 18 paragraph in The South Eastern Gazette of 20th December last, with reference to the collection of tithes in the parish of Biddenden, Kent—
A Protected Tithe Collector.—Duiing last week Mr. Peterson, junior, attended by a police constable, collected nearly all the outstanding tithes due to his father, the Rev. W. Peterson;whether the services of the police constable were paid for out of the county police rate or by the Rector of Biddenden; and, whether it is to be understood that the active assistance of the police can in like manner be obtained by the farmers and shopkeepers of Biddenden in the recovery of their debts?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have no authority over county police and no control of their movements, nor any knowledge of the way in which any particular service is paid for. In this case I am informed by the Chief Constable of the county that the police constable in question was in attendance with the agent appointed to collect the tithes, because he was informed that a breach of the peace was likely to occur, but that he did not go off his beat or leave the main road. The active assistance of the police can be obtained to prevent breaches of the peace, but not for the recovery of debts.