Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Home Secretary whether he can now state the result of his communication with the Central Criminal Court authorities as to the taking and publication in the Press of a photograph of the judge passing the sentence of death upon the prisoner Seddon?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have communicated with the Lord Mayor and with the officers of the Court; and I find that no permission was given for the taking of the photograph in question or of any photograph in the Court. It must have been taken without authority and surreptitiously. The Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, and the officers of the Court strongly disapprove of such photographs being taken, and share my hon. Friend's indignation that anyone should have been guilty of such an outrage.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWith a view to stopping such incidents in the future, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of legislation to make illegal the publication of such photographs?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will consider the point.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANWill the right hon. Gentleman make arrangements that those who are permitted in Court shall pledge themselves not to do this thing?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat will be difficult, I am afraid.