HC Deb 11 April 1905 vol 144 cc1267-8
MR. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on April 3rd Joseph Wright, an artisan, of West Bridgeford, Nottingham, a man of respectable antecedents, who has never before been charged with anyoffence by the police, was, upon being fined 10s. by the Nottingham bench of magistrates for riding a bicycle without a lamp, refused permission to go out for or telephone for the sum of 2s. 4½d., which he required to make up the fine; that he was driven to the county gaol in the prison van, made to strip and to put on prison clothing, † See (4) Debates, cxxxix., 977. and imprisoned in a cell until his employer paid the balance of the fine; and whether he can take any steps to prevent the recurrence of such treatment.

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)

I have made inquiry in this case and find that the prisoner made no application to the magistrates for time to pay his fine. He had not sufficient money with him for the purpose, and though the police, who were very busy at the time, did what they could to send a message to his employers, the reply did not come till after Wright had been removed to prison. On his reception there, on a commitment showing him to be a convicted prisoner, the prison authorities had no option but to treat him as such. So far as I can see no blame attaches to either the police or the prison authorities, but at the same time it seems to me very unsatisfactory that a respectable man should have gone to prison in default of paying a fine which at the time he appears to have been both willing and able to pay, and I am in communication with the magistrates with a view of seeing how best such an occurrence can be prevented in future. The case is an unfortunate one.

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)

The man made every effort to be allowed to pay the fine.

*MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS

Still I do not think the police are to blame.

MR. YOXALL

Other cases of this kind have occurred. Will the right hon. Gentleman issue a circular to all justices' clerks with regard to these cases?

*MR. AKERS DOUGLAS

I am in sympathy with the hon. Member, and think that hardship has been inflicted on Wright, but I cannot see that either the police or the prison authorities are to blame. But it does seem—on the facts supplied to me—that the magistrates might have made further inquiries as to Wright's position and ability to pay. I am not prepared to issue any such general circular as suggested, at all events until I have received the answer to my inquiry.