44. Viscountess ASTORasked the Home Secretary how many times during the last three years policewomen in London have appeared in Court as witnesses or in charge of sexual crimes against women and children?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI could not, without exhaustive inquiry, give the number, but I can say that statements of children in sexual cases are always taken either by the Lady Assistant or by a Woman Inspector specially appointed for the purpose, and child witnesses who have no relations or friends suitable to look after them are cared for until the proceedings are over, and provided for after the proceedings are over by either the Lady Assistant or the Woman Inspector with the help of various voluntary organisations.
Viscountess ASTORIs it not true that this year we have had 250 cases of indecent assault on women, and that we have only two women police appointed for the purpose of looking after them, whereas in 1921 we had eight?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI cannot accept my Noble Friend's figures, and perhaps she will put them down in another question. I cannot answer for the actual numbers of police force on a particular duty, but I am satisfied, as I said in my reply, that the interests of the women and children are cared for by women police and women inspectors.
Viscountess ASTORCannot the right hon. Gentleman get the figures from his officials? Many of us know that the number is inadequate?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now giving an opinion.