§ MR. KNOWLES (Salford, W)asked the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, Whether, in view of the fact that on Friday last a lady was robbed in Westbourne Terrace in broad daylight, and that many similar offences have boon committed recently in that neighbourhood, he proposes to take steps, by the employment of detectives or otherwise, to increase the security of the public?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)It is a fact that a lady was robbed on Friday last in Westbourne Terrace at 3.30 p.m. on a very foggy day. The Commissioner of Police tolls me that he is not aware that many similar offences have been committed in that neighbourhood. Such an augmentation of the Police Force as would make impossible in this great Metropolis an outrage such as this of snatching away a purse openly carried in a lady's hand, would entail an expenditure of which the taxpayers might reasonably complain.