§ 20. Mr. HARRISasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on the 11th June a number of persons who entered the shop of a newsagent in Lower High Street, Watford, were searched by the police; that a man named A. E. Hatton, who had gone there to buy a paper, though after a search nothing was found on him to indicate that he had any connection with betting, was taken with others to the police station in an open car in full public view, and was detained for some two and a-half hours, losing three hours' work in consequence; and on what authority did the police arrest persons entering a shop offering articles for sale, on the suspicion that some person or persons may be using the place for illegal purposes?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have made inquiry of the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire and am informed that the police acted under the authority of a justice's warrant to search and arrest, which was obtained on evidence sufficient to afford ground for suspicion.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the right hon. Gentle man aware that a lot of people went in to buy a newspaper, including a vanman in charge of a van, who was taken from his work, and although no charge was made against him, was detained for two or three hours, and does he realise that this action might entail the arrest of himself if he went into the shop to buy something?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will run my own risk. I would like the hon. Member to realise that the Home Secretary is not responsible for the action of the Chief Constable in this matter. I have no power.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is a very highhanded action to enter a shop in broad daylight and seize people who come in to buy a newspaper, against whom there is no evidence whatever, and against whom no evidence has been produced even up to the present?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have no power in the matter. Information was laid before a justice, who granted a search warrant in the ordinary way. The search warrant was executed by the, constable, over whom I have no power.