§ MR. RADFORD (Islington, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Harold Nisbet Price, chartered accountant, who was arrested on Sunday, the 11th February instant, in Canonbury Place, Islington, on a charge of extinguishing a street lamp in Canonbury Square, preferred by P.C. Moore, and P.C. Turner; whether he is aware that Mr. Price was searched and placed in a cell, and remained there until bail could be obtained and his release effected, that Mr. Price was discharged the next morning by Mr. Bros, the stipendary magistrate, who said that the case really involved a question of perjury; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be instituted into the conduct of the police in the matter.
§ MR. GLADSTONEMr. Harold Nisbet Price was arrested by the police on the 11th of February on the charge of having extinguished a street lamp, and was brought to the station where he was detained in a cell until bail was given. He was not searched but was invited to deliver up any matches or knife he had in his possession, and he did so. As regards the question of perjury, I find from the report of the proceedings that Mr. Bros, the magistrate, asked the solicitor for the defendant whether he imputed perjury, and that the solicitor said he did not, but he considered that the police had made a mistake. Careful inquiry has been made by the Commissioner into the facts, and he reports to me that he finds no reason for blaming the police officers concerned, except that he thinks that the officer in charge of the station might, in the exercise of his 1129 discretion, have released Mr. Price on his own recognisance instead of requiring bail.