MR. JOHN WILSON (Durham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has seen an account of the evictions of 85 miners and their families at Hutton Henry Colliery, in the county of Durham, when the furniture was removed from the houses solely by the county police; and whether such work is included in the lawful duties of a policeman or should it be done by bailiff's?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI have made inquiry into this matter; the proceedings which were taken under the Act 1 & 2 Viet., cap. 74, appear to have been perfectly regular. The chief constable informs me that the ejectments were made by the police in a quiet and orderly manner and without any opposition from the miners themselves, and that he was advised by Queen's Counsel, whose opinion had been taken in a previous case, that it is the duty of the police to execute any such warrant that may be addressed to them, whether the owner finds assistance for them or not.
MR. J. WILSONfurther asked if they were to understand that if an employer thought fit to evict his workmen the police of the county were to be drawn from their ordinary duties to remove the furniture from the houses?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYMy answer is that a learned Queen's Counsel was consulted as to the duty of the police in these matters, and he advised that where there was a warrant given to the police to execute it was their duty to execute it.