§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that girls employed at Harrod's Stores, Brompton Road, S.W., are from time to time searched by the female searcher at Walton Street Police Station, and that a retired police inspector from Scotland Yard is present at the time of the search; if he can state the method employed for searching, whether the female searcher and the inspector are remunerated by the firm; and whether such proceedings are sanctioned by the Home Office?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Commissioner reports that no person has been searched at Walton Street Police Station unless brought there and specifically charged with a criminal offence. It appears that a woman employed as cleaner at Walton Street Police Station for certain hours of the day has during other hours taken employment from Harrod's Stores, and has, at their instance, searched girls employed there. She asserts that no man has ever been present at the searches, but that her remuneration for work thus done has been paid to her through ex-police officers, who, being on pension, are not under the control of the Commissioner. These proceedings are not in any way sanctioned by the Home Office, but the connection appears to me to be undesirable, and I am making further inquiry.
§ Mr. H. K. NEWTONHas the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiries from Harrod's Stores?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo. I have not made any inquiries. I am going to make inquiries. The undesirable feature in these proceedings is the apparent connection of the woman with the police authorities.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the managing director of the firm is treasurer of the Tariff Reform League?
§ Mr. H. K. NEWTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it would be better in cases of this sort, where it is so easy to get information rapidly, that the information should be asked for from a firm such as this, so that the answer may hi given at the same time that the question is asked?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not at all concerned with what Harrod's Stores do. That does not come under the Home Office. I have no doubt they conduct their business in a very proper way. I do not express any opinion on that at all. All I am expressing an opinion on is the connection between a person employed in the police station and any work of searching which may be undertaken by a private firm. That would seem to suggest that the searching was done with police authority. That is what I mean by undesirable connection.
Mr. L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSHas the right hon. Gentleman ascertained whether the facts stated in the question are correct?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have made inquiries, and this is the result of my information. The further inquiries I am going to make will terminate the proceedings in a manner which will not inflict hardship on any person concerned.
§ Mr. JOHN O'CONNORWill the right hon. Gentleman ascertain whether this practice does not amount to trespass and false imprisonment?
§ Mr. H. K. NEWTONWill the right hon. Gentleman ascertain whether the practice which he reprobates in this case does not prevail in the case of every large house in the City of London?
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think a worse state of things could exist under a state of Socialism than this?