HC Deb 19 February 1897 vol 46 cc777-8
MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Regina v. Greatorex-Smith, an indictment for performing an unlawful operation, tried at the Central Criminal Court on the 14th ultimo before Mr. Justice Hawkins, when the learned Judge expressed his strong disapproval of the course taken by Inspector Fox, first, in reading over to the prisoner on his arrest a portion of a statement which the young woman had made, and secondly, in taking the prisoner to the bedside of the dying woman and putting questions to her in his presence; (2) whether Inspector Fox has been reprimanded by his superior officers for his conduct in this case; (3) whether he is aware that it is a growing practice on the part of detective officers of the Metropolitan Police to attempt to get in as evidence statements which would otherwise be inadmissible by arranging that they shall be made in the prisoner's presence or read over to him; and (4) whether he will take steps to caution the Metropolitan Police on the subject?

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, Blackpool

Yes, Sir; I have seen the newspaper reports of the trial. It appears from these that the learned Judge decided that, under the circumstances, the statement made by the young woman was inadmissible in evidence. This being so, it becomes, of course, a matter of regret that she should have been troubled in this way on her deathbed. I am satisfied, however, after careful inquiry into all the facts of the case, that in very difficult and painful circumstances Inspector Fox did no more than was his duty in endeavouring to obtain the evidence of the young woman—the solo witness—by the only moans in his power. I cannot think that his conduct deserves censure. The answer to the second, third and fourth paragraphs of the Question is in the negative.

MR. PICKERSGILL

asked whether, having regard to the growing practice referred to in paragraph 3 of his Question, the right hon. Gentleman would caution those police officers?

*SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

said that if he had the slightest idea that there was any growing practice on the part of the police of endeavouring to obtain inadmissible evidence he would certainly take the action recommended by the hon. Gentleman; but in this case it was difficult for him to say more than that he thought the inspector, and those who advised him, had a reasonable idea that they were acting in accordance with the requirements of the law.