§ DR. MACGREGORI beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he is aware that, as stated in the Strathearn Herald of the 2nd instant, frequent shop robberies have of late taken place in the town of Crieff owing to the police being employed in looking for poachers in the neighbouring country districts; and, if so, will he take steps to have the law so amended that the police shall not in future be employed in duties which prevent their affording equal protection to the property of all classes of the community?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR, Clackmannan, &c.)I am informed that since the beginning of August last there have been four occasions upon which premises were broken into, or attempted to be broken into, in the town of Crieff. On each of these occasions the police were immediately upon the spot,, and every exertion was used with a view to the detection and apprehension of the depredators, and with some success. The police were not on any of these occasions engaged in watching for poachers, and arrangements have since been made for the better protection of the town during the night.