§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the 91 Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the report of a libel action tried at the recent Manchester Assizes before Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, wherein it was stated that the police had handed over to the plaintiffs in the case a petition against a house which it was alleged or suspected was used for immoral purposes, and if it is customary to treat such communications as privileged; and whether the police exceeded their duty in handing the document to the tenants of the house in question, upon which letter the case was based?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)I have seen a newspaper report of the trial, and I am informed by the Chief Constable that after the defendants had repeatedly accused the plaintiffs of keeping an immoral house, and had been informed by the police that these accusations were unfounded, they reiterated the charge, and the Superintendent accordingly visited the house himself. The occupiers demanded to know the reason of the visit, and the Superintendent informed them of the letter of complaint alluded to in the question. The police were subpœnaed to produce this letter at the trial. Such communications are usually treated as privileged; but, in the opinion of the Chief Constable, this case was a most exceptional one, as malice was palpably shown; a view which was borne out by the proceedings at the trial. Under these circumstances I do not see that the police exceeded their duty.
§ MR. SCHWANNCan the right hon. Gentleman give his own opinion upon the matter?
§ MR. MATTHEWSNo. I must decline to do that.