§ 19. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the action of certain members of the police in raiding the house of a man called Marcovitz, residing at 132, Thistle Street, Glasgow, without a search warrant, on account of an alleged theft of cigarettes by another person; that no prosecution took place; and that Mr. Marcovitz was guiltless of any crime; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have made inquiry, and am informed that Mr. Marcovitz's shop and an apartment in rear were searched by the police on the 7th May last in consequence of a statement by a man then in custody (who was later sentenced to 60 days' imprisonment for theft of cigarettes) that he had sold a quantity of the stolen property to Mr. Marcovitz. The search disclosed no evidence on which proceedings could be taken. On the information before me I have no reason to think that the circumstances were such as to require the 861 possession of a search warrant by the police. I see no ground for action on my part.