§ MR. MOSSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, by the prison regulations, the prison authorities are entitled to take photographs of an accused person against his will while he is under arrest but before he is tried or convicted, and who after trial, may be acquitted; if so, whether the authorities retain the photographs of these accused persons, even 931 after their acquittal; and, if so, whether he will take any, and what, steps to prevent any accused person from being photographed before his conviction.
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASProvision is made in the Penal Servitude Act, 1891, for the photographing of untried prisoners when their photographs are required in the interests of justice; but it can be done only in certain cases and under certain conditions which are prescribed in the regulations made by the Secretary of State on June 20th, 1895, and laid before this House. The regulations require, inter alia, that if the prisoner is either discharged by the magistrate or acquitted on trial, botli negatives and copies must be either destroyed or handed over to the prisoner. It is in many cases absolutely necessary in the interests of justice that prisoners should be photographed before trial; but it appears to me that the interests of those who are found innocent are completely safeguarded by the regulations.
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASIn certain cases it is absolutely necessary in the interests of justice that a prisoner should be photographed before his trial, but it appears to me the interests of these men are completely safeguarded in the way I have suggested.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)What means have you of being assured the negatives and copies are destroyed?
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASDistinct orders are given that that shall be done. I have made inquiries and no complaints have reached me.
§ MR. FLAVINThe pictures are developed outside the prison, and it is easy to print any number of copies.