§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the last Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, showing that since 1867 over three and a half millions worth of property has been stolen in the Metropolitan Police District, and only one-fifth recovered; and, having regard to the probable quintupling of this nett loss to the public of £2,800,000, if the property stolen in the provinces is taken into account, if he will consider the need of fresh legislation upon the lines of the Stolen Goods Bill, recommended by the police authorities of Great Britain and introduced by the late Lord Selborne on behalf of the then Government in 1881 and 1882, which, after examination by two Select Committees, passed the Upper House, so as to restrain the melting down of stolen goods, with no questions asked, or register of particulars, immediately on purchase from the thieves or their agents?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY, Lancs., Blackpool)I do not see my way to initiate legislation on this subject during the present Session, but I will not lose sight of the Question.
§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to give notice that to-morrow I shall ask leave to introduce a Bill on the subject.