§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the recent case of Sievier v. Duke, a police constable of the Metropolitan force gave evidence that one of the litigants was in his opinion a person of evil reputation; by whose authority or instruction he was permitted to give such evidence, and whether he received from any person, and, if so, whom, any reward or gratuity for attending the court as a witness; whether he has sanctioned the practice of a police constable appearing in a civil cause between private litigants to express opinions as to the character and reputation of one litigant at the instance and on behalf of the other litigant; and, if not, whether he will censure those responsible for permitting the officer to give such evidence, and take steps to prevent the recurrence of such conduct.
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASThe officer in question attended to give evidence in obedience to a subpœna, and, I am informed, received ordinary conduct money only. The police authorities had no power to forbid him to obey the order of the Court and I am, therefore, not prepared to pass any censure on them in 41 the matter. I am not aware that there exists any such practice as that suggested in the Question, and I certainly should be the last to encourage it.