§ 10. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that, on Saturday, 23rd January, Mr. S. Clarke Richardson was arrested and taken to Notting Hill police station and detained for several hours under suspicion of the crime of stealing his own motor-car, registered No. YK7403, notwithstanding the fact that he continually protested his innocence, and offered evidence of many well-known persons who could testify to his bona fides; and will he issue instructions that persons so detained in future shall be charged so that they shall have an opportunity of providing bail?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)In this case the owner of a stolen car gave the police a wrong number which happened to be the number of Mr. Clarke Richardson's car. The police took every possible step to get at the facts quickly, and treated Mr. Clarke Richardson with every consideration. When Section 45 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1925, comes into force, it will be possible to admit a person to bail before accepting a charge, and in the meantime it is not desirable to issue instructions of the kind suggested.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the owner of the car was communicated with the engine number and the chassis number that he gave to the police were entirely different from those on Mr. Richardson's car, and that in spite of this fact Mr. Richardson was still kept in custody for several hours?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf a gentle man gives a wrong number of a stolen car, and someone else is found in possession of a car labelled with the wrong number, the fault is obviously that of the original person who gave the wrong number.
§ Colonel DAYDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise the fact that the engine number and the chassis number given by the owner of the stolen car were entirely different from those of Mr. Richardson's car, and that when the police had verified this from the owner they still kept him in custody?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThat hardly arises out of the original question. All I can say is that I am informed that Mr. Richardson received every consideration while detained by the police.
§ Colonel DAYWill he say when the number of the stolen car was withdrawn by the police, because five days after Mr. Richardson was nearly arrested again for being in possession of his own car?
§ Mr. HAYESMay I ask whether the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act of last year could be anticipated to meet such a case as this?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThis House passed an Act that is to come into force in the middle of this year, and there is no power until that Act comes into force.