HC Deb 03 August 1897 vol 52 cc242-3
SIR JOHN KENNAWAY (Devon, Honiton)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police has decided not to take action against professional betting men carrying on their operations in athletic sports grounds in consequence of the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Kempton Park Racecourse Inclosure case; and, whether, before this decision is finally sanctioned, he will obtain the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to the Judgment in question applying to athletic sports grounds?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

The Commissioner of Police is bound to regard the decision to which my right hon. Friend refers as an authoritative declaration of the law unless and until it is over-ruled by a Court of superior authority; and I am not aware of any distinction which renders the decision inapplicable to athletic sports grounds.