§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked whether the Home Secretary's attention has been called to the recent observations of Mr. Cluer, the London stipendiary magistrate, in dismissing a charge against the proprietor of a licensed house in Parnell Road, Bow, that he considered that the evidence given by the police was false; whether he has instituted any inquiry into the matter; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe case referred to is one where a summons taken out by the police for allowing betting in a public-house was dismissed by the magistrate. This he was bound to do if he felt any doubt that the evidence presented by the police was inaccurate or incomplete; and whether his decision was right or wrong, the police have no appeal against it. The Commissioner of Police has, however, in the light of the magistrate's remarks, most carefully considered the evidence given by the police officers concerned and all the circumstances of the case, and he has come to the conclusion that there is no ground for charging them with giving wilfully false evidence or for passing any censure on their conduct.