§ 58. Mr. BOOTHasked the Home Secretary if the recent statement of the police authorities to the effect that the tales about decoying girls by means of bogus nurses and other startling disappearances were untrue was made with his knowledge and concurrence; whether this warning is meant to apply generally to such stories; and if he can say what is the motive to which the police attribute the invention of such narratives?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a question on the 29th of last month, to the effect that many tales of the spiriting away of girls have been circulated in London, but that in no case have the police been able to find any evidence of their truth. The police know of no motive for the invention of these reports, many of which are obviously variants of the same story.
§ Mr. BOOTHDoes my hon. Friend not know that these stories first had their origin when the Criminal Law Amendment Bill was before this House?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHI have no special information upon that point.
§ 59. Mr. BOOTHasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the increasing number of girls of tender years parading the streets; if he has any explanation to offer; and does he still persist in refusing a thorough inquiry?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHIn the opinion of experienced police officers there is no increase in the number of girls of tender years parading the streets. They report that there is on the part of many women who walk the streets a tendency to dress in such a manner as to appear much younger than they are.