§ 6. Mr. HANNONasked the Home Secretary the total number of police officers detailed for duty in Hyde Park daily, and the number of such officers specially employed in relation to the observance of the by-laws and regulations of the park; and if Reports are submitted to the Home Office from time to time on the activities of these officers?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe average number of police performing duty (including traffic duty) in Hyde Park on each day is 45. They work a tour of eight hours, so are not all on duty at any one time. Their ordinary duty includes the enforcement of the Park regulations, and none of them are specially employed in relation to those regulations. Reports on their work are submitted to me as required.
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask whether, apart from these cases that appear in the papers, the conduct of the police in Hyde Park has been above reproach for years past?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, Sir; and I might add that I have no complaint whatever in regard to them, and am satisfied that they carry out very difficult duties with honesty and courtesy.
§ 7. Mr. HANNONasked the Home Secretary the annual cost of police supervision in Hyde Park, and the amount expended upon the special services which relate to observance of by-laws during the hours of darkness; and if he will consider the reduction of these costs by a more effective lighting system in the park?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe total annual cost of all the police regularly employed in Hyde Park, including those engaged on traffic control as well as those patrolling the park, is approximately £25,000 per annum. My Noble Friend the First Commissioner of Works informs me that apart from the police there are no special services relating to the en- 387 forcement of the Park by-laws. I will consult him as to the adequacy of the present lighting system.
§ Mr. HANNONHas my right hon. Friend not received, from time to time, complaints that the lighting of the park is not adequate; and in point of fact is it not the worst lighted park in Europe, having regard to its importance?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have received information that it is not well lighted. It so happens that my Under-Secretary is also the representative in this House of the First Commissioner of Works, and I have asked him to take this matter in hand.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALADid the right hon. Gentleman not publicly say that the morals of the people were no part of the duty of the police, but that what was required of the police was to make sure that any romantic behaviour on the part of some people should not be seen by respectable persons; and in view of that fact, would not that duty be better performed by extinguishing all the lights in the park?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am afraid I cannot regard the hon. Member's statement as bearing much resemblance to any speech which I have ever made.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the figure which he has given amounts to over £10 per week for each policeman?
§ Mr. HANNONWould the right hon. Gentleman be able to tell us, after consultation with the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as the representative of the First Commissioner of Works, when the question of the lighting of the park will be considered?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am in communication already with the First Commissioner of Works, but, as my hon. Friend will understand, we cannot reconsider the whole question of the lighting of Hyde Park in a couple of days.
§ Sir ROBERT THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Hyde Park is one of the few places where servant girls in London can carry on innocent flirtations?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not know, but I have not the slightest objection to it.
§ Mr. DAYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider, when he is consulting with the Under-Secretary, the question of the lighting of the other parks as well?
§ 8. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Home Secretary how many persons have been apprehended by the police for alleged indecency in Hyde Park during the last 12 months; in how many cases have convictions been obtained; and whether he has come to any conclusion about the need for better lighting of Hyde Park after dark?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSDuring the 12 months ended 31st March, 325 persons were arrested for offences of indecency under the Parks Regulations, of whom 258 were convicted, while 37 others, the charges against whom were found to be proved, were discharged: a total of 295 guilty out of 325 arrested.
For prostitution offences, the figures are 242 out of 269.
Aiding and abetting prostitution offences, 36 arrests, 36 convictions.
Importuning, 2 arrests, 2 convictions.
Indecent exposure, I arrest, I conviction.
Rape, I arrest, no conviction.
Indecent assault on females, 2 arrests, no conviction.
Offences of insulting behaviour under the Police Act, 56 arrests, 40 found guilty.
For all these various offences taken together the figures are 692 arrests; 616 found guilty, of whom 540 were actually convicted. As regards lights, I would refer to the reply given to the preceding question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo not these figures show how few mistakes the police make in this difficult duty?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs the Minister who is responsible for the police, I have gone very carefully, before the present time, into the very difficult position which exists in regard to these matters, and I am really satisfied that the police, not only as a whole but individually, do their best in very difficult circumstances.
Viscountess ASTORCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of the persons charged with indecency were warned before arrest; and does he not think that a warning before arrest, given by a uniformed policeman or policewoman, would be more effective, as a way of dealing with this particular subject?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAbsolutely useless!
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSOf course, it would be exceedingly difficult when a gross offence has been committed, not only against the code of regulations of the park, but against decency, to say that the man or woman concerned should have been warned, the offence having actually been committed at the time. There are cases which take place in public parks where those who commit the offences are deserving of punishment for what is really an offence against the whole community. As far as the other point is concerned, I propose to refer the general question to the Macmillan Committee on Street Offences.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIn how many of these cases were the accused persons legally represented at their trial?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI could not tell that without notice.