§ MR. HOPWOOD (Lancashire, S.E., Middleton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will inquire into the case of F. W. Smith, of Clarence Road, Hunslet, under sentence of 14 days' imprisonment for neglecting to vaccinate his child; whether two police officers about midnight of 17th August came and knocked loudly, and broke in the outer door to arrest Smith; and whether he will take steps to prevent such a course being pursued in the future?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.The following is the answer of my right 1556 hon. Friend:—I have made inquiries into this case, and have received a Report from the Chief Constable, from which it appears that Smith was evading payment, having stated that he did not intend to pay. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and as the officer charged with the execution of the warrant could not get to see him he proceeded to execute it at night. He did not, in the first instance, break open the door, but knocked, and Smith, answering from the bedroom window, said he would surrender when ready, but instead of that escaped by a side door. The officer, after waiting some time, then burst the door and found Smith gone. The Chief Constable further informs me that if he had been consulted beforehand he would not have authorised the attempt to arrest at night; but the proceedings do not appear to have been illegal.