§ 25. Captain BRASSasked the Home Secretary how many police officers were employed in the Metropolitan police area over the week-ends, 14th to 16th March, and 21st to 23rd March, respectively, in trapping motorists for exceeding the speed limits of 10 and 20 miles per hour. and dangerous driving; how many traps were in operation; and what cost to the Public was involved in this police activity?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSDuring the week-end, 14th to 16th March, 84 periods of duty, ranging from three to eight hours, were occupied in speed controls, and 26 specially for the detection of cases of dangerous driving. During the weekend, 21st to 23rd March, the corresponding figures were 90 and 36, respectively. The number of controls worked in the two weeks were 64 and 62. These are ordinary police duties, and the cost forms part of the ordinary expenses of police, as in the case of any other police, duty.
§ Captain BRASSCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me the difference between traps which are set to catch persons driving dangerously and those for merely exceeding the speed-limit?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to resist all pressure from that side of the House to weaken the police control of motoring, owing to the danger to the public?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs regards the first supplementary question, I am afraid I cannot at this moment say exactly what is the difference between the two controls. Men going through a control may be either driving at an excessive speed or to the public danger. As to the second supplementary question, I have already stated that until the law is altered I shall do my best to carry out the law and enforce it.
§ Captain BRASSWould the right hon. Gentleman consider setting a different kind of trap, instead of fining people for merely exceeding the speed-limit over a certain length of road?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not know what my hon. and gallant Friend means by different kind of trap.
§ 26 and 27. Captain BRASSasked the Home Secretary (1) whether he is aware that the police in the Metropolitan area have received instructions to allow motorists to pass through 10 mile speed-limits at 24 miles per hour without prosecution: and whether he can state who has decided that 24 miles per hour is not a dangerous speed in a 10 mile speed-limit: and whether this rule applies equally when the road is dry or slippery;
(2) whether he is aware that the police in the Metropolitan area have received instructions to allow motorists to pass through traps set by them on the open road without prosecution if their speed is found not to exceed 34 miles per hour; whether he can state who decides that the legal limit of 20 miles per hour may be broken to that extent: and whether this limit applies equally on wet and dry roads?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThere is no hard-and-fast rule such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests, but in view of the reluctance of magistrates to convict 605 in cases where there is only a small margin of speed over the statutory limit, the police, when considering the institution of proceedings against a person who has broken the law in this respect, generally allow some margin, provided of course there is no question of driving to the danger of the public.
§ Captain BRASSDo I understand from the right hon. Gentleman that he considers it right that the police should set their own limit, instead of the limit laid down by the law?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo, not at all, but if the police find that repeatedly certain magistrates will not convict, say, on a speed of 21 miles an hour, the police are quite right in not taking proceedings until the law is, may I say, flagrantly broken by a speed such as I am quite sure my hon. and gallant Friend would never drive at?
§ Mr. CECIL WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been complaints from certain quarters as to the leniency which magistrates owning motor-cars have shown to people driving dangerously?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not know.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not the fact that the police carry out this very difficult duty with great tact and judgment?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am obliged to the hon. and gallant Gentleman for that testimonial to the police.
§ Captain BOWYERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the last few days certain police have definitely fixed the speed at which you may go at 34 miles an hour? Will he make inquiries into those circumstances if I give him particulars, and issue instructions that the law, and only the law, has got to be obeyed?
Captain ARTHUR EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the police can use their discretion in enforcing this law, and will he make representations that they should issue summonses only where a person is driving to the danger of the public?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSRegarding the first supplementary question, I certainly was not aware that any police had fixed any such figure as 34 miles an hour, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will give me particulars, I will inquire into them. As to the second supplementary question, I have said before that it is the duty of the police to carry out the law, and until the law is altered they must carry it out.