§ MR. SAMUEL SMITHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring in a Bill to obviate the difficulties at times caused to the police and the hardships to some prisoners by re-arrests at prison gates for similar offences previously committed in a different county or jurisdiction; or, if not prepared to take this course, will he send out generally to police authorities, chairmen of quarter sessions, and judges a circular on this subject, similar to the one addressed by himself last summer to the Liverpool Watch Committee, so as to facilitate arrangements that a prisoner on trial on confessing any previous offence in addition to that for which he is accused, may be dealt with by a single sentence and punishment?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI have considered the possibility of remedying the hardship to which the hon. Member refers by means of legislation, and have consulted Her Majesty's Judges on the point; but it was found that there were great difficulties in the way. In order if possible to diminish the hardship, I caused the circular which the hon. Member mentions to be issued, not to the Liverpool Watch Committee only, but to all the police authorities in the country. I do not see that anything would be gained by issuing another circular to judges, recorders, or chairmen of quarter sessions. I am glad to say that I find the circular has been effective.