§ 63. Mr. MORRELLasked the Home Secretary whether it is the practice of the Metropolitan Police, after instituting proceedings for offences under the Children Act, to hand over the case to the charge of Officers of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; whether this procedure is governed by any definite arrangement to secure that the prosecution should be continued; and under what statutory powers is the arrangement authorised?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt would not, generally speaking, be the practice of the Metropolitan Police, after instituting proceedings, to hand over a case to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but it has been their practice for many years, when information is received of alleged offences against certain provisions of the law relating to children, to notify the society. The society can then often take measures for remedying the evil which are more effective than a prosecution, and avoid the breaking up of the home, which is liable to result from a prosecution. When a prosecution is desirable, proceedings are taken either by the police or by the society, as the circumstances of the case indicate. The arrangement with the society in no way abrogates the power of the police to prosecute when a prosecution is desirable.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that cases have happened—I am told very frequently—in which the police have handed cases over to the society, after they themselves have instituted proceedings—as mentioned in the question?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt may have happened in certain cases—I will inquire further—but it is certainly not the practice.