§ 10. Mr. DAYasked the Home Secretary the number of charges for indecency brought by the police under the Hyde Park Regulations for the month of May, 1928; and how many of these charges were supported by other than police evidence?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe answer to the first part of the question is none. The second part, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. DAYWith reference to the very large number in the previous month, I would like to ask if special instructions were given to the police to try to obtain corroborative evidence?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe question put to me relates to the number of charges for indecency, and the answer is that there were none in the month of May of this year.
§ Mr. DAYThe point I want to make is that in the previous month there were 64 cases, of which only one was supported by corroborative evidence. May I ask whether the reason for this great reduction is that special instructions have been given to the police to try to obtain corroborative evidence?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo, Sir; the hon. Member must form his own conclusion as to the reasons for the falling off.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean, as I hope was the case, that there has been an improvement in public manners in Hyde Park, or that the police have been hampered by recent events in carrying out their duties?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think the hon. and gallant Member will see that these questions are putting me in a very difficult position. The fact is clear that there was an average number of from 30 to 40 cases per month in the previous months, and since certain events there have been none, and that is what always follows in regard to similar events. I hope that before very long the police will resume their normal activities. I must confess that I cannot say that there is any change in the position of affairs.
§ Lieut-Commander KENWORTHYIs, the Home Secretary aware that a great majority of the Members of this House and the public outside are ready to support him in properly administering the law?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs the hon. and gallant Member knows, the position is an exceedingly difficult one. I am exceedingly anxious not to take any false step in the matter, and I would ask him to leave it to me.
§ 7. Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Home Secretary 677 the number of monthly arrests for misconduct in Hyde Park during the first five months of 1927 and 1928, respectively; and the number of similar arrests for the first three weeks of June in both years?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME-DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)As the details are rather long, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the details:
§ The following are the numbers of arrests per month for certain offences in Hyde Park this year and during the corresponding period last year:
| A.—Indecency. (Arrests under Hyde Park Regulations.) | |||||
| Month. | 1927. | 1928. | |||
| M. | P. | M. | F. | ||
| January | … | 22 | 20 | 4 | 5 |
| February | … | 31 | 31 | 81 | 32 |
| March | … | 27 | 26 | 23 | 24 |
| April | … | 10 | 8 | 31 | 33 |
| May | … | 11 | 12 | — | — |
| June (1–19) | … | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| B.—Soliciting. (Arrests under ordinarylaw.M) | ||||
| Month. | 1927. | 1928. | ||
| January | … | … | 30 | 28 |
| February | … | … | 30 | 20 |
| March | … | … | 38 | 11 |
| April | … | … | 18 | 7 |
| May | … | … | 27 | — |
| June (1–19) | … | … | 15 | — |