§ 14. Captain BRASSasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the remarks passed recently by the Marylebone Magistrate in connection with summonses issued by the Metropolitan police for offences against motorists in the Metropolitan police area; and whether, in view of the expense and waste of police time involved in such prosecutions, he will give instructions to those responsible for the issuing of the summonses that only those cases of a really serious nature should be dealt with?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the suggestion is that the police should not apply for summonses for offences such as driving cars on the highway without the proper licence attached or without the lights required by law or legible identification marks, it is certainly not one which I could adopt. Experience shows that prosecutions for such offences are necessary to check evasions of revenue requirements and the use of motor vehicles in a manner dangerous to the public or for criminal purposes.
§ Captain BRASSDoes my right hon. Friend think that it is a fit proposition that a man who has taken out a licence for a motor car, who has the licence in his pocket and through some oversight has not put it in place on the ear, but immediately puts it in place when the police ask him to do so, should he summoned?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not know what I should have done myself, but perhaps this policeman was a more law-abiding subject than I am, and undoubtedly an offence was committed, and the policeman Was not exceeding his duty in issuing a summons m respect of it.
§ Captain BRASSThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman going to interfere with the police in their legitimate duty of carrying out the law of the land?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI said I was not going to do so. I said that the constable did not exceed his duty in carrying out the law, and I should not think of interfering with the police in their legitimate duty.