§ MR. CONYBEAREI wish to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made any inquiry, and with what result, as to why and by whose authority one inspector of police and six constables were told off for special duty in Abbey Street, Bethnal Green, on Wednesday evening last, on the occasion of a lecture by the hon. Member for Camborne in the Bethnal Green Radical Club; and whether the orders issued to the police authorize them to go into private houses and demand copies of placards announcing such a lecture when they can read them posted on the walls in the street?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have made inquiry, and am informed that, in accordance with the usual practice of the police, one police sergeant and four constables were told off to preserve order in case of need in the vicinity of the meeting at the Bethnal Green Radical Club on Wednesday last. No orders on the subject have been issued by the police authorities, but the practice is for the police to obtain copies of bills announcing meetings, when they can do so without offence, in order to ascertain the probable character of the meeting and the police precautions which ought to be taken for the protection of those who attend.
§ MR. CONYBEAREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the bills convening this meeting were posted on the walls of a street adjoining the club, and that there was absolutely no necessity for the police to insult private people by demanding them?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have read the report of the police constable, and there is not a word to show that he insulted anybody.