§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into recent unjustifiable arrests by the Metropolitan Police, and especially of Messrs. Gerothwold and Lavalette; whether he has received any reports on the subjects of these arrests; and whether he will lay the same upon the Table of the House.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEI do not think the question whether these arrests were justifiable or not can be properly dealt with by a Departmental Committee, which could not take evidence on oath. The charges brought against certain officers of the Metropolitan Police and strongly denied by them raise a clear issue, which can only be disposed of satisfactorily by a court of law; and if Dr. Gerothwold and Mr. Lavalette desire to take proceedings, no obstacle will be put in their way by the police authorities. The reports I have received are confidential, and could not be published without prejudice to the parties in any proceedings that may be taken.
§ LORD E. CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman state what remedy he suggests is open to these gentlemen?
§ * MR. GLADSTONEI am sure the noble Lord is much better able to say than I am. Proceedings can be taken for wrongful arrest.