71. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the police are taking action against men who are acting as pickets in connection with 2105 the dispute in the building trade in London under the Police Acts and not under the Trade Union Acts and if he will state whether they are doing this with his sanction?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe police do not take action under any Act against pickets as such, but where pickets offend against the law they are liable in the same way as other persons. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that in six cases it has been necessary to proceed against men purporting to act as pickets for offences committed by them. Five cases have resulted in conviction by the Courts; the sixth is still pending.
§ Mr. CLYNESCan the right hon. Gentleman supply the House with the instructions under which the police act in these cases?
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the hon. Member will put a question down, I shall be glad to look into the matter.
Mr. THORNEIs it within the discretion of the police to decide the number of pickets in each particular case?
§ Mr. McKENNASo far as I am aware the police have no authority to decide how many pickets there should be on a particular job; but it must depend on the circumstances of the case.
72. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Home Secretary whether he has had any complaints from the officials of the societies connected with the building trades regarding the action of the police towards the men who are acting as pickets in the present dispute in the building trade in London; whether he has been asked to inquire into the action of the police; and, if so, whether he proposes to make any inquiry?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, I received some complaints a few days ago, and I referred them to the Commissioner of Police who is now making inquiry.